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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffChildhood asthma has become more widespread in recent decades. As the most common chronic illness in children, childhood asthma causes more missed school and places more limits on activity than does any other disease in the United States. Childhood asthma and adult asthma have the same underlying cause — inflammation of the airways. This inflammation makes the airways overly sensitive, leading to signs and symptoms that range from minor coughing or wheezing to serious flare-ups that interfere with breathing.
Fortunately, childhood asthma is treatable. Although childhood asthma can't be cured, you and your child can keep symptoms under control with a written plan, monitoring, regular doctor visits and making treatment changes as needed.
