Define asthma.
a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory system characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness, episodic exacerbation (asthma attacks), and reversible airflow obstruction; manifests with reversible cough, wheezing, and dyspnea
Define asthma exacerbation.
a reversible worsening of the clinical features of asthma that develops over a short period of time and can progress to life-threatening asthma; may be the first manifestation of asthma in some patients
Define allergic asthma.
the most common type of asthma; begins with intermittent symptoms in childhood and is usually associated with atopy (e.g., eczema, rhinitis) and a good response to treatment
Define nonallergic asthma.
an uncommon type of asthma that is not related to atopy and is typically associated with a poor response to standard treatment (e.g., ICS)
Describe the age of onset.
Allergic asthma: typically in childhood
Nonallergic asthma: typically > 40 years
Last changed2 years ago