Table 1

Classification of non-infective acute respiratory illness (ARill) in athletes

Anatomical classificationPathological classificationConditions in athletes
Predominantly upper airways
  • Inflammatory non-infective (ARill)

  • Non-infective rhinitis/rhinosinusitis *

    • Allergic rhinitis/rhinosinusitis

    • Non-allergic rhinitis/rhinosinusitis (chemically/mechanically mediated, for example, pollution, gases, air temperature)

  • Non-infective pharyngitis/laryngitis (chemically/mechanically mediated for example, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), pollution, gases, air temperature)

  • Non-inflammatory non infective (ARill): upper airway obstruction (anatomical/mechanical)

  • Structural (anatomical) nasal obstruction†

    • Static

    • Dynamic (non-inflammatory)

  • Oropharyngeal obstruction

  • Laryngeal obstruction

    • Exercise induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO)

    • Static (anatomical) laryngeal obstruction

Predominantly lower airways
  • Inflammatory non-infective (ARill)

  • Lower airway dysfunction (allergy mediated, chemically/mechanically mediated, for example, pollution, gases, air temperature, etc)

    • Asthma

    • Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB)

    • Airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR)

  • Non-inflammatory non-infective (ARill): lower airway obstruction (anatomical/mechanical)

  • Expiratory/Excessive Central Airway Collapse (ECAC)

    • Excessive Dynamic Airway Collapse (EDAC)

    • Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM)

  • *Can cause nasal obstruction due to mucosal swelling (inflammatory).

  • †Can cause nasal obstruction due to anatomic/structural causes and can be static (fixed) or dynamic (non-inflammatory, for example, nasal valve collapse).