Asthma is a common condition which often starts in childhood but can affect people of any age. Along with the USA, Australia and New Zealand, the UK has one of the world's highest rates of asthma1Ref 1. MRC and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma MRC (www.asthma-allergy.ac.uk), although the reasons for this are not known. There are almost five and a half million people in the UK currently receiving treatment for asthma, including 1 in 12 adults (over 4 million) and around 1 in 11 (over 1 million) children2Ref 2. Asthma UK. Key Facts and Statistics (www.asthma.org.uk).

It is estimated that asthma costs the NHS over almost £1 billion (996m) per year, and is responsible for an annual loss of almost 13 million working days. The most recent records (2006-2007) showed that there were over 80,000 emergency admissions over a one year period, 41% of these being children under 14 years and a child is admitted to hospital because of asthma every 16 minutes2Ref 2. Asthma UK. Key Facts and Statistics (www.asthma.org.uk).

Although there is currently no cure for asthma, the majority of serious problems can be prevented if proper measures for controlling and managing the disease are taken. It has been estimated by the charity Asthma UK that three quarters of all hospital admissions for asthma, and as many as 90% of deaths from the condition, are avoidable2Ref 2. Asthma UK. Key Facts and Statistics (www.asthma.org.uk).