Outgrowing Asthma: Can Asthma Go Away and Come Back?

Asthma can be a bummer for kids and parents. It can limit activities that the child can do, and can be dangerous to their health. There is no specific treatment for asthma, but some kids don’t experience it as they grow older. Can asthma go away and come back? Or does it permanently leave a person’s body?

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition where the airways that carry air to and from the lungs constrict, which makes breathing difficult. An increase in the production of mucus also affects how air moves through the inflamed airways. There are many factors that increase the chance of a person having this condition, including:

• Genetics. The presence of a certain gene makes it more likely for the person to have this condition.
• Being exposed to cigarettes or tobacco smoke during conception and after birth.
• Low birth rate and preterm birth of the child.
• History of asthma in any side of the family, especially on the mother’s side.
• Boys are more likely to have this condition compare to girls.
• In terms of race, African Americans and Puerto Ricans have a higher chance of having it.
• Frequent respiratory-related ailments during childhood.

What triggers asthma?

Identifying the triggers and causes will help answer the question “can asthma go away and come back”.

Having the condition can make the child more sensitive to different allergens in the air. It helps for parents to be familiar with potential triggers, to prevent their kids from being exposed to them.

Some of these are:

• Change in weather especially during the rainy season
• Extended physical activity
• Exposure to cigarette or tobacco smoke, or air pollution such as car exhaust
• Pets that shed a lot of fur that is not cleaned up properly
• Small particles such as pollen, dust mites, and molds
• Acid reflux can worsen symptoms
• Fumes from disinfectant and household cleaners

The best way to avoid attacks is to limit exposures to these triggers. It also helps to encourage kids to have a healthy and active lifestyle.

Can asthma go away and come back: Can kids outgrow it?

Does the condition leave the body? Can asthma go away and come back? The answer is asthma is not curable but it can be controlled by following an action plan which includes medication, prevention of triggers, and monitoring of symptoms. If successful, the symptoms decrease as the child grows into their teenage years. The child may be able to do activities that they were previously unable to do due to the symptoms.

However, there’s a chance that symptoms will reappear later, around age 30 to 40, and can become more difficult than childhood asthma.

The likelihood of acquiring the condition for the first time as an adult is lower than for people who already had them during childhood. There are also cases where adults don’t experience remission later in life.

Key takeaway

It may be unfortunate to have asthma as this can be a lifelong disease that needs to be addressed. There are several triggers that can affect people, especially kids who are more sensitive to allergens. But can asthma go away and come back? The answer is it doesn’t go away in the first place. There is no known cure for it but it can be contained through different methods and medication. It is always best to consult your doctors or health care providers to start your own action plan for this condition.

Learn more about Asthma here.