A longitudinal study of 138 adults with asthma found that respiratory viruses, including rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and chlamydia, were associated with asthma exacerbations. Symptoms of colds were reported in 80% of episodes, and 89% of colds were linked to asthma symptoms. Objective evidence of asthma exacerbations was found in 44% of episodes with a mean peak expiratory flow rate reduction of ≥50 l/min. Laboratory confirmed infections were associated with 24% of episodes with a mean reduction of ≥50 l/min and 48% with ≥25 l/min. Rhinoviruses accounted for 64% of laboratory confirmed infections, and coronaviruses for 30%. The study showed that respiratory viruses commonly cause or are associated with asthma exacerbations in adults. The study also found that 80% of subjective asthma exacerbations occurred with symptomatic colds, and 89% of colds were associated with asthma symptoms. This suggests that acute respiratory infections are as commonly linked to exacerbations in adults as in children. The study used various diagnostic methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and seminested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to detect respiratory viruses. These methods improved the diagnosis of viruses and showed that they are important causes of respiratory disease leading to asthma exacerbations in adults. The study also found that the use of chaperones by general practitioners varied. Female general practitioners felt comfortable examining patients of the opposite sex without a chaperone, while male general practitioners had mixed attitudes. Many male doctors used practice nurses as chaperones, but some also used receptionists, dispensers, and practice managers. The study found no correlation between the frequency of use of chaperones and the practice size or doctor's age. The findings suggest that respiratory viruses play a significant role in asthma exacerbations in adults, and that the use of chaperones by general practitioners varies based on individual attitudes and practices.A longitudinal study of 138 adults with asthma found that respiratory viruses, including rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and chlamydia, were associated with asthma exacerbations. Symptoms of colds were reported in 80% of episodes, and 89% of colds were linked to asthma symptoms. Objective evidence of asthma exacerbations was found in 44% of episodes with a mean peak expiratory flow rate reduction of ≥50 l/min. Laboratory confirmed infections were associated with 24% of episodes with a mean reduction of ≥50 l/min and 48% with ≥25 l/min. Rhinoviruses accounted for 64% of laboratory confirmed infections, and coronaviruses for 30%. The study showed that respiratory viruses commonly cause or are associated with asthma exacerbations in adults. The study also found that 80% of subjective asthma exacerbations occurred with symptomatic colds, and 89% of colds were associated with asthma symptoms. This suggests that acute respiratory infections are as commonly linked to exacerbations in adults as in children. The study used various diagnostic methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and seminested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to detect respiratory viruses. These methods improved the diagnosis of viruses and showed that they are important causes of respiratory disease leading to asthma exacerbations in adults. The study also found that the use of chaperones by general practitioners varied. Female general practitioners felt comfortable examining patients of the opposite sex without a chaperone, while male general practitioners had mixed attitudes. Many male doctors used practice nurses as chaperones, but some also used receptionists, dispensers, and practice managers. The study found no correlation between the frequency of use of chaperones and the practice size or doctor's age. The findings suggest that respiratory viruses play a significant role in asthma exacerbations in adults, and that the use of chaperones by general practitioners varies based on individual attitudes and practices.