Hyperreactivity of the bronchi and bronchioles with bronchospasm (contraction of the smooth muscle). Inflammation and swelling severely narrow the lumens. Attacks are triggered by exposure to allergens, dust, mold, smoke, inhaled chemicals, exercise, cold air, or emotional stress. It is also known as reactive airway disease. There is severe shortness of breath, mucus production, coughing, audible wheezing, and difficulty exhaling. Patients with asthma are said to be asthmatic. Status asthmaticus is a prolonged, extremely severe, life-threathening asthma attack. TREATMENT: Avoid things that trigger asthma attacks. Corticosteroid drug, bronchodilator drug, and leukotriene receptor blocker drug to prevent attacks. Inhaled bronchodilator drug during attacks. Oxygen and epinephrine (Adrenalin) for severe attacks. Hereditary, eventually fatal disease caused by a recessive gene. Cystic fibrosis affects all the exocrine cells (those that secrete mucus, digestive enzymes, or sweat) but the respiratory system is particularly affected. Mucus is abnormally viscous (thick), and it blocks the alveoli, causing dyspnea. Constant coughing causes bronchiectais. There are frequent bacterial infections in the lungs. The chronic lack of oxygen causes cyanosis and clubbing, a deformity of the fingertips. Mucus blocks pancreatic ducts and the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, and so fat is not digested properly. The patient has diarrhea and is undernourished. The pancreas develops cysts that become fibrous, hence the name cystic fibrosis. The sweat glands are overactive; the patient perspires excessively, losing large amounts of sodium. A sweat test shows increased amounts of sodium and chloride in the sweat. TREATMENT: Daily postural drainage and chest percussion to remove mucus. Bronchodilator drug and corticosteroid drug, digestive enzymes, and a high-salt diet Lung infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spread by airborne droplets and coughing. If the patient's immune system is strong, the bacteria remain dormant and cause no symptoms. Otherwise, the bacteria multiply, producing tubercles (soft nodules of necrosis) in the lungs. There is fever, cough, weight loss, night sweats, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood). When this bacterium is stained in the laboratory, it holds an acid stain, and so it is known as an acid-fast bacillus (AFB). TREATMENT: The waxy, external coating around this bacterium makes it resistant to regular antibiotic drugs. Several antitubercular drugs are used in combination for 9 months to treat tuberculosis.