Can kids outgrow asthma?

If you have asthma, you have probably been asked this question (over and over and over again.) My favorite is when some "helpful" person will say that "my old roommate's best friend's neighbor has a cousin who outgrew their asthma, so your kids will too!!"

Ya, well it's not that easy. There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to asthma. I haven't outgrown my asthma, and with 2 sons in college, I'm WAY past the age of hoping I outgrow it! For those of you who feel you have outgrown your asthma, here's a great quote from a Webmd article website titled "Can Kids Outgrow Asthma?"

"There’s always a chance of the symptoms coming back. Sometimes they reappear in adulthood, and they can be brought on by triggers different from before. In about half the kids whose symptoms decline during adolescence, they'll reappear when they hit their 30s or 40s, studies say."

I didn't have many problems with asthma when I was in college, but years later, my asthma is worse than it's ever been. And I DO have new triggers-perfume, cologne, scented candles and scented markers. I use maintenance medication every day and always carry my inhaler.

For those of you still wondering if your kids can outgrow their asthma, Webmd says that asthma may just go into "remission" for a period of time (meaning they can still have asthma and can experience an asthma attack later.)

The Webmd article also lists:

• how to know if your child has 'gone into remission' 
• when your child may be more likely to have lifelong asthma. 

I don't want to dash anyone's hopes that their kids will outgrow their asthma (or have it go into remission.) Read the article and decide for yourself. And talk to your doctor! I have heard of people that haven't had an asthma attacks for years, then they suddenly have one-but they no longer carry an inhaler. So they are rushed to the emergency room instead. Your doctor may want you to keep an inhaler on hand....just in case. 

You can never be too careful when it comes to asthma and an unexpected attack. I like to "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst!"