Childhood asthma often persists into adolescence and childhood, particularly in obese individuals, new research shows.
A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that 'complete remission of asthma in adolescence and adulthood is less common than commonly believed'.
The authors foubd most children with asthma in the prepubertal period continued to have wheezing episodes after the onset of puberty.
An early onset of puberty was associated with persistent asthma symptoms during adolescence, the report indicates, though parental smoking was not.
Children in the unremitting wheezing group had significantly higher body-mass index (BMI) than did children in the remitting group, the researchers note.
'Disrupted dietary patterns are frequently 'inherited' into adult life, and obesity in childhood not only affects respiratory symptoms and lung function in children, but it could even increase their susceptibility to develop chronic respiratory diseases as adults,' conclude the authors.
Reference: Guerra S et al (2004) Persistence of Asthma Symptoms during Adolescence: Role of Obesity and Age at the Onset of Puberty Am J Respir Crit Care Med 170 (1) 78-85