Asthma is a common affliction, affecting 8% to 10% e of the population. Many childhood asthmatics grow out of the disorder in adulthood, so a disproportionate percentage of people with asthma are children. For most people, asthma is a minor inconvenience akin to – and often associated with – seasonal allergies. An unlucky fraction of asthmatics, however, have a more severe form of the illness.