Dangerous asthma.

Greater awareness of the morbid condition in severe asthma attacks would decrease the still considerable number of deaths which occur in otherwise fit, young asthmatics. Failure to recognise serious attacks in time may be due to the presumption that the disorder is one of bronchoconstriction. More dangerous is the hyperaemia and exudation of plasma into the bronchial lumen where it mixes with mucus to form plugs. Bronchial epithelium damaged during an attack may take weeks to regenerate, increasing the risk from another attack. Patients should be instructed to consult a doctor when expected bronchodilator relief decreases in either degree or duration.