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.

Classification of Asthma Severity

Diagnosing asthma is not always easy in young children because of possible confusion with certain other problems such as spasmodic coughing or exercise-induced asthma manifestations.

60% of asthmatic adults suffered from the disease in childhood. In 30-50% of cases, it disappears during adolescence but it commonly recurs in adulthood and, even in the absence of frankl symptoms, respiratory function can remain abnormal.

The fact that, in many cases, asthma is not controlled as well as possible with existing therapeutic resources can be explained by poor understanding of the disease on the part of patients.  A European study conducted on 1.000 asthmatics[1] being treated by chest specialists revealed that only 25.6% of asthma have an accurate general understanding of the disease (the organ affected, the persistence of the disease even between attacks, and the relationship between chronic inflammation bronchoconstriction).

[1] Liard R et al. Rev Fr Allergol Immunol Clin 2001, 41 (Suppl. 1):3-14