AsthmaCreate a free account to sign-in. Medscape - Reference - Asthma - Go to the "Multimedia Library" to see the images and videos - Author(s): Michael J Morris, MD, FACP, FCCP, Zab Mosenifar, MD, Edward Bessman, MD, MBA, Paul Blackburn, DO, FACOEP, FACEP, Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP, Helen M Hollingsworth, MD, Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH, and Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD - "Asthma is a common chronic disease worldwide and affects approximately 24 million persons in the United States. It is the most common chronic disease in childhood, affecting an estimated 7 million children. The pathophysiology of asthma is complex and involves airway inflammation, intermittent airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness."