I have also been diagnosed with Brittle Asthma, and have looked this up across many web sites. It affects 1 in 2000 asthmatics and can be of 2 types. Can't quite remember what these are, but gereally it means that although on high doses of inhaled steroids the asthma seems quite controlled but can flare up unexpectedly and may require hospitalisation on these occasions.

All asthma sufferers have inflamed and constricted airways which cause a tightness in the chest as well as difficult breathing. These symptoms in brittle asthma sufferers are often chronic, severe and very difficult to treat as well as proving unresponsive to medicines and other treatments. Brittle asthmatics are also very susceptible to sudden and often unpredictable changes in their condition, and this is where the term 'brittle' is used.

Sufferers can fall into the following categories:

Type 1 Brittle Asthmatics suffer chronically every day with their asthma, even though they are on large amounts of medication and treatment and this often includes the use of daily steroids. Apart from their chronic daily condition, they can sometimes suffer life- threatening asthma attacks which come on suddenly and often with little or no warning. Type 1 sufferers may need frequent admission to hospital when their condition is exacerbated. They may try to lead as normal a life that is possible, but many find themselves unable to work and in some cases become registered disabled.

Type 2 Brittle Asthmatics often appear to be reasonably well with their asthma well controlled, but the Type 2 sufferers can also have severe and often life threatening attacks that come on very suddenly with little or no advanced warnings and they too may require frequent hospital admission. These asthmatics may have access to high doses treatments in an emergency when their condition worsens, some may take steroids every day in short courses, but most of the time their condition is kept stable by regular medication and treatment and many will still work and continue education etc.