UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO)

Keywords: bronchospasm, asthma, exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/23/2013 by Brian Corwell, MD
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Unexplained respiratory symptoms during exercise are often incorrectly considered secondary to exercise induced asthma/bronchospasm.

An important diagnosis on the differential should be exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO).

Of 91 athletes referred for asthma workup, 35% had EILO.

The presence of inspiratory symptoms did not differentiate athletes with and without EILO.

61% of athletes with EILO used regular asthma medication at referral.