A 'knowledge and expectation' survey was conducted among the mothers of asthmatic children attending specialized paediatric clinics in the mostly urbanized areas of Kuwait. The 123 women interviewed generally displayed high levels of knowledge regarding causes, signs and prognosis of asthmA set of beliefs regarding the possible social and emotional impact of asthma revealed a mostly positive expectation regarding the effect of the disease on affected children. Knowledge scores were higher among the younger, more affluent and better educated mothers. More particularly, scores were higher among women who had had previous personal experience with asthma, and those who had access to information through a physician. Younger, better educated mothers with personal experience of asthma were also more likely to express positive expectations. It is important to assess whether an 'optimistic bias' among mothers with previous experience with asthma may lower their vigilance regarding the disease in their children. Physicians should be alerted to that possibility when communicating with mothers of asthmatic children.