title: Asthma epidemiology, pathophysiology, and initial evaluation.
abstract: The prevalence of asthma and the burden of disease remain high, despite efforts to improve public awareness about and medical management of asthma. Asthma is a disease of airway inflammation that has a variable natural history. Atopy is the most important risk factor for the development of asthma.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex., USA.
authors.forename: Vanessa L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Pamela Runge
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000503:physiopathology