Mannitol Challenge Test

The Mannitol Challenge Test is a medical procedure used to evaluate airway hyperresponsiveness, commonly seen in asthma. In this test, a patient inhales increasing doses of mannitol, a sugar alcohol, which can cause airway narrowing in sensitive individuals. The doctor measures lung function before and after inhalation to see how much the airways constrict. A significant narrowing indicates heightened airway sensitivity, helping diagnose asthma or assess its severity. The test is safe, non-invasive, and provides valuable information about airway responsiveness without the use of medication or provocative agents other than mannitol.