BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of lung airways characterized by Bronchial hyper responsiveness and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to episodic airflow obstruction resulting in recurrent cough, wheeze and shortness of breath (Paroxysmal dyspnoea).

All that wheezes is not asthma. Wheezing is very common and almost 1/3^rd baby by 3^rd b’day and ½ of baby wheeze by 6^th b’day. It is the most common chronic illness in children and prevalence varies from 1 to more than 30 % in different populations and incidence is increasing every year. Asthma prevalence has doubled in last two decades. It is the common cause of school absenteeism, poor scholastic performance due to nocturnal symptoms, disturbed sleep, day sleep and restrictive activity. It is more common in urban areas and boys.