ASTHMA, A MAJOR GLOBAL HEALTH PROBLEM

Asthma is currently one of the most frequent chronic diseases in industrialized countries. Recent studies support this process as a chronic inflammatory condition of the airways and it has been emphasized that even in mild asthma this inflammation characterized by infiltration of eosinophils, lymphocytes and mast cell activation is present. Asthma affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide. It is a major global health problem affecting all age groups, with increasing prevalence in many developing countries, rising treatment costs and a growing impact on patients and society. Asthma continues to place an unacceptable burden on health systems and society through loss of work productivity and, especially in the case of paediatric asthma, through disruption of family life.