prognosis

Asthma is a disorder that recognizes no age group but it is more common in children. As it is a chronic disease, it may persist for decades. Generally, the prognosis of Asthma is quite good. The treatments available are excellent and control over this disease is easily achieved. However, asthma is the 3^rd major cause of hospitalization in children under age of 15 in America. This condition can become very severe in children less than 5 years due to their narrow airways.

According to a study published in 2003, researchers followed patients with asthma for more than 30 years. About a third of the patients had outgrown the condition and became symptom free in that particular study. In general, we can say that the more severe the childhood asthma, the higher the chances that it will persist into adulthood. There is also evidence that asthma can cause damage and lead to permanent fibrosis in some patients. The risk for injury is highest, however, when asthma strikes children aged 3 to 5 years. 


For children who develop asthma between ages 6 to 12, there does not seem to be any significant risk of long term lung damage. Children are able to adapt well to living with asthma and even children with severe asthma are able to function optimally in all areas of life.

In adults, the long term outlook of asthma patients depends on the severity:

•      In mild to moderate cases, asthma can improve over time and many become symptom free
•        In some severe cases, adults may experience improvement depending on the degree of obstruction and effectiveness of treatment
•     In about 10% of severe persistent cases,  changes in airway structure lead to irreversible and progressive disorders of the lung, even in patients that are treated aggressively

     Lung function declines faster in asthmatic patients compared to those who are well. The decline in lung function is aggravated in those who smoke and in those with excessive mucus production (poor treatment control)

    Death from asthma is relatively uncommon and most are preventable. Even when it is not life threatening, asthma can be debilitating and frightening. Asthma that is not properly controlled can interfere with daily activities.

references :

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_serious_asthma_000004_4.htm

http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/pediatric-asthma/prognosis.html