Asthma is characterised by recurrent attacks triggering paroxysmal dyspnea associated with wheezing. These attacks can be soothed by the use of a symptomatic treatment like bronchodilators.

This condition is due to an inflammation of the middle respiratory tract leading to bronchial hyperreactivity.

In an asthma attack, the bronchial lumina shrink as a result of the contraction of local smooth muscles and this associated with oedema of the bronchial mucosa and excessive mucus secretion. This leads to a marked reduction of the volume of air expired and , to a lesser extent, of that air inhaled.

The international consensus on asthma (Global INitiative for Asthma or GINA) has proposed an asthma classification since 1995. It is regularly updated. The latest version dates from 2006.

This classification is based on a grading of the severity of asthma in 4 stages. Each grade closely associates clinical characteristics with functional parameters, which facilitates the diagnosis and makes it easier to design a suitable therapeutic strategy.

Classification of Asthma Severity

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