Clinical evolution of asthma from early childhood to development age

Abstract

The aim of study was to conduct evaluation over twenty years on patients with relapsing wheezing breathing since their early years of life. The research included a period of observation started in 1978 up to 2002. The follow-up included 381 patients. The enrolment was carried out during the first 15 years, after being evaluated during outpatient or/ and hospitalization the children with a clinical picture resembling asthma (at least three episodes of dyspnea for a year, at least 2 years prior to our first observation). During follow-up the rhole of some risk factors in childhood able to affect the persistency of asthma in adulthood was considered. An early onset of symptoms resulted to be a favourable prognostic sign. At the end of study 294 (77.16%) patients at 18 year of age already had a remission of the disease. Patients with normal IgE levels and negative Rast and Prick skin tests presented a higher clinical remission: the rate were statistically significant. A symptomatic and preventive therapy practised regularly resulted to be a favourable factor for remission. The severity of symptoms result to be an unfavourable prognostic factor. In conclusion, if asthma is recognized precocity can mitigate and remove symptoms and so improved adulthood lifestyle.