Chronic asthmatic bronchitis refers to an underlying asthmatic problem in patients in whom the asthma has become so persistent that clinically significant chronic airflow obstruction is present despite anti-asthmatic therapy. The symptoms of chronic bronchitis are generally also present.

Asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema all diffusively affect the bronchial tree and may give rise to the syndrome of wheezing, cough, and shortness of breath. It is clinically difficult to distinguish among...