Asthma is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process of the airways in which a variety of cells predominate, such as eosinophils, neutrophils, and mast cells. Chronic inflammation produces an increase in airway reactivity and recurrent episodes of wheezing, respiratory distress, intercostal pulling, coughing, and chest tightness, especially at night and in the morning. Asthma is a disease in which there is bronchial hyperresponsiveness, which is an exaggerated response of the bronchial mucosa and leads to bronchospasm and bronchitis.
