Airway

Asthma is a complex, chronic inflammatory disease of the lower airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness. Inflammation has a central role in pathophysiology of asthma. Airway inflammation involves an interaction of many cell types and multiple mediators with the airways that eventually results in the characteristic pathophysiological features of the disease. Patients typically present with intermittent symptoms of cough, wheeze, dyspnea, and/or chest discomfort. Asthma is often associated with a history of atopy, and this association in asymptomatic patient is one of the most strongest predictors of asthma.