Abstract
Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract in which various cells and inflammatory mediators are involved. It is characterized by remodeling of the airway wall. Multiple inflammatory mediators may be involved, including interleukins. Physiologically, acute asthma has an early component, with an acute bronchospastic aspect marked by smooth muscle bronchoconstriction and a later inflammatory component, resulting in airway swelling and edema. In the early stages of asthma, hypoxemic respiratory failure occurs. If the asthmatic crisis is maintained over time, it will produce a status of severe acute asthma (ASA), which is characterized by hypercapnic respiratory failure.