The word “usually” in the definitio

The word “usually” in the definition of asthma has concerned some readers. The rationale is that,
although chronic airway inflammation is characteristic of most currently known asthma phenotypes, the
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00853-2015 3
ASTHMA CONTROL | H.K. REDDEL ET AL.
absence of inflammatory markers should not preclude the diagnosis of asthma being made in patients with
variable expiratory airflow limitation and variable respiratory symptoms.