A lung disease characterized by spasms and inflammation of the airways, causing wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Asthma is a lung disease characterized by recurring and sometimes persistent spasms and inflammation of the airways, causing episodic symptoms of wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Prevalence

A significant medical problem in children of all ages, asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism and the most common reason for hospitalization of children. In 1993, asthma accounted for an estimated 198,000 hospitalization and 342 deaths among persons under age 25. Approximately 2-10% of children in the United States suffer from asthma; the most recent estimate is 4.3%. Childhood asthma is more common among boys, African Americans, residents of inner cities, and children from low-income families.

AGE AT ONSET OF ASTHMA

Asthma can arise at any age. Approximately 20% of cases begin in the first year of life. Wheezing due to viral or other infections in...