Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the lining of the airways. It can limit airflow and cause mild to severe wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing.

Indoor and outdoor triggers can make symptoms worse and cause attacks in some people who have asthma. Examples of triggers are pollen, mold, smoke, and viruses.

Inflamed Bronchus in the Lungs

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REFERENCES:

Acute asthma exacerbation in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-asthma-exacerbation-in-children. Updated August 22, 2018. Accessed October 22, 2019.

Asthma exacerbation in adults and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/asthma-exacerbation-in-adults-and-adolescents. Updated January 29, 2019. Accessed October 22, 2019.

Asthma in adults and adolescents. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/asthma-in-adults-and-adolescents. Updated October 11, 2019. Accessed October 22, 2019.

Chronic asthma in children. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-asthma-in-children. Updated September 27, 2019. Accessed October 22, 2019.

Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) global strategy for asthma management and prevention. GINA 2018.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD