[The prognosis of bronchial asthma in childhood]

The prevalence of childhood asthma is about 10% as compared to 6% in adults. 40% to 80% of asthmatic children become symptom-free during adolescence, but asymptomatic bronchial hyperreactivity may persist. About one third of those patients who have become symptom-free during adolescence will have relapses in adult life. Some factors seem to predict a worse prognosis of the disease: positive family history, concomitant allergic diseases, eczema, severe symptoms at the onset of the disease and during adolescence, a high degree of non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity, active and passive smoking. Questionable prognostic factors include sex, age of onset and breast-feeding.