ABSTRACT
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is characterized by recurrent respiratory symptoms of dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, and/or cough, and is associated with variable airflow obstruction. The diagnosis of asthma in older children and adults is made by the presence of symptoms consistent with asthma and the demonstration of variable airflow obstruction. Making the diagnosis of asthma can be challenging in patients who cannot reproducibly perform spirometry, and in adults with a smoking history and in who there is fixed airflow obstruction. Patients with asthma seek medical attention because of respiratory symptoms. A typical feature of asthma symptoms is their variability. Asthma clusters in families and its genetic determinants appear to be linked to those of other allergic immunoglobulin E-mediated diseases. In mild asthma, a physical examination is usually not helpful, as it is normal under stable conditions, but becomes characteristically abnormal during asthma exacerbations.
