Asthma : a new look at an old disease

Abstract

Asthma has attracted a great deal of attention over the centuries probably because its clinical manifestations of breathlessness and wheezing present themselves in such a dramatic manner. A historical outline of this anomaly sets off the introduction of this article. Key factors in relation to asthma are thereafter discussed; its etiology and pathogenesis, immunological aspects, pharmacological mediators, non-immunological mechanisms, respiratory infection, psychological factors and pathology. The etiology and pathogenesis of this condition is still far from clear in certain areas and a lot of work still remains to be done to try and unravel this problem.