Postgraduate course presentation. Infantile bronchial asthma

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1981 May;67(5):339-47. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(81)90077-4.

Abstract

There is no evidence that any type of therapy, including hyposensitization therapy, will directly influence prognosis. The long-term prognosis of childhood asthma is less optimistic than previously believed. Approximately 30% of the patients who become symptom-free in adolescence relapse and become symptomatic in early adulthood. Blair's recent 20-yr follow-up report on 267 childhood asthmatics revealed that only 50% had become almost or completely symptom-free. Moreover, there is evidence that 60% of those who become symptom-free still demonstrate bronchial hyperreactivity and are liable to wheeze again if challenged with an appropriate stimuli. Therefore, the dictum that most children "outgrow" their asthma is incorrect and a more likely explanation is that most childhood asthmatics "outgrow" their pediatricians.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Airway Resistance
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Asthma / diet therapy
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Bronchiolitis, Viral / etiology
  • Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cromolyn Sodium / therapeutic use
  • Diaphragm / physiopathology
  • Education, Medical, Graduate*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity, Immediate / complications
  • Immunotherapy
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Respiratory Sounds / etiology
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / diagnosis
  • Virus Diseases / complications

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Cromolyn Sodium