Can children outgrow asthma and/or allergies?
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Discovery Health answered:Asthma is a chronic state of hyper-responsiveness. While some children have asthmatic symptoms that clear up over the course of their adolescence, others have symptoms that worsen. The tendency to have overly sensitive airways usually remains. There is no way, unfortunately, to predict a child's future with asthma.
For allergies, it is erroneous to believe children outgrow them as they would a pair of shoes. However, allergies may improve over the course of time, especially during puberty.Asthma is a chronic state of hyper-responsiveness. While some children have asthmatic symptoms that clear up over the course of their adolescence, others have symptoms that worsen. The tendency to have overly sensitive airways usually remains. There... More -
Intermountain Healthcare answered:How asthma affects children throughout their lifetimes varies. In some children, symptoms get worse over time. In other children, symptoms seem to go away as the lungs develop. Still, people who seem to have “outgrown” childhood asthma often have their symptoms reappear in adulthood. The bottom line? Even if symptoms go away, the tendency toward asthma is still there. That’s why people diagnosed with asthma -- children and adults alike -- should work with a doctor to match their treatment plan to their current condition.How asthma affects children throughout their lifetimes varies. In some children, symptoms get worse over time. In other children, symptoms seem to go away as the lungs develop. Still, people who seem to have “outgrown” childhood asthma... More -
Dr. Margaret Payne answered:Asthma is a disease state in which the airways of the lung become inflamed and constricted. Basically the airways are hyper-responsive to certain triggers. There are many different triggers for asthma exacerbations. In young children, one of the big triggers is viral respiratory infections. Especially with infants that develop RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) infections, there is a strong tendency to have asthma symptoms with almost every cold or respiratory illness for the first several years of life. However, as the child gets older, they develop immunity to these illnesses and as a result seem to "outgrow" their asthma.
However, allergies are another big trigger for asthma. Usually, allergies are not "outgrown" but they may change their manifestation over time. For example, allergies might cause skin disease in younger children and then move into nasal symptoms and asthma. This type of asthma is usually a lifelong disease that must be controlled.Asthma is a disease state in which the airways of the lung become inflamed and constricted. Basically the airways are hyper-responsive to certain triggers. There are many different triggers for asthma exacerbations. In young children, one of the big... More
