[CARD from childhood to adulthood]

In approximately 50 per cent of the children with asthma respiratory symptoms, these symptoms disappear during puberty. Outgrowing childhood asthma is especially estimated by: the degree of airway obstruction as a child, and the degree of bronchial hyperreactivity in childhood. Another childhood factor of influence on the prognosis of asthma seems to be the combined early and late bronchial response after inhalation of an allergen. Factors not predicting the outcome of childhood asthma are: at what age asthma symptoms started; whether the child with asthma had eczema or not, and how strong skin-allergy was. Conceivable risk-factors for the outcome of childhood asthma are: smoking of the parents and a strong degree of eosinophilia. The prognosis of asthma might be improved by more intensive treatment and continuity in treatment of the children with an increased risk.