Fatal Asthma

ASTHMA has been recognized for more than 30 centuries,1 but only in the past 50 years has death from the disease attracted much attention. Floyer reported sudden death from asthma in an 18-month-old child in 1698.2 In 1784, Cullen wrote, "The asthma, though often threatening immediate death, seldom occasions it, and many persons have lived long under this disease. In many cases, however, it does prove fatal; sometimes very quickly and perhaps always at length."3 In contrast, Laennec, who made many observations on asthma, including the occurrence of nocturnal attacks, did not recognize that it could be fatal. At the . . .