Surfer's asthma

Abstract

Common asthma triggers during recreational activities include allergen exposure, concomitant viral infection, and exercise. We present the case of a 42-year-old man with a 2-year history of wheezing, chest tightness, and upper respiratory symptoms that were associated with surfing. He denied symptoms with other forms of exercise and had no personal history of asthma. His physical exam was unremarkable and his pre- and postbronchodilator spirometry was normal. After detailed history and keen observation on the patient's part, a diagnosis was made and he enjoyed good response to the therapy for this condition. Underrecognized asthma triggers and exposures in the recreational environment should be investigated.