Asthma

Definition

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role. It is characterised by an increased responsiveness of the trachea and bronchi to various stimuli and manifested by a widespread narrowing of the airways that change in severity either spontaneously or as a result of therapy. This leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning.

Exclusions

• wood asthma
• asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• miner’s asthma
• Wheezing
• chronic obstructive asthma
• chronic asthmatic (obstructive) bronchitis

Inclusions

• Idiosyncratic asthma

Index Terms

Subcategories (4)