There’s no cure for childhood asthma, and the condition won’t resolve as a child ages. However, treatments such as inhalers and oral medications can help keep the symptoms under control.
Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes the airways to swell. Children with asthma can have difficulty breathing, and they often need treatments such as inhalers and medications to control their symptoms.
There’s no cure for asthma, and children don’t outgrow the condition as they age. However, treatment can help keep symptoms and flare-ups to a minimum.
There isn’t a cure for childhood asthma. It’s possible to control childhood asthma through treatment, but it won’t resolve completely.
Some children experience fewer symptoms as they age. However, asthma causes changes to the airways that remain even if someone isn’t experiencing symptoms.
Asthma treatment depends on factors such as a child’s age and the severity of their symptoms. The primary goals of asthma treatment are to reduce or eliminate a child’s asthma symptoms and allow them to experience few, if any, asthma flare-ups.
Additional goals of asthma treatment include keeping children active in sports and other physical activities and reducing their reliance on rescue inhalers.
Common treatment options for childhood asthma include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids: Inhaled corticosteroids include medications like fluticasone (Flovent HFA) and budesonide (Pulmicort). They can reduce airway inflammation and help with long-term asthma control.
- Leukotriene modifiers: Leukotriene modifiers are oral medications that can help prevent asthma symptoms for 24 hours.
- Combination inhalers: A combination inhaler contains both a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta-agonist, like fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair Diskus). It can be a good option for asthma cases that standard inhaled corticosteroids don’t help with.
- Immunomodulatory agents: Immunomodulatory agents are medications that help calm down the immune system response. They can reduce the inflammation associated with asthma.
- Omalizumab: Omalizumab is an option for children with asthma triggered by allergies. It can reduce the immune system’s reaction to dust, pollen, and other common allergens.
- Antihistamines: Antihistamines are another option for children with asthma triggered by allergies. They can reduce the symptoms and can be a good option for controlling asthma attacks.
- Immunotherapy allergy shots: Immunotherapy is an allergy treatment that can gradually reduce allergies over time. It can help with asthma triggered by allergies.
- Short-acting beta-agonists: During an asthma attack, people can take beta-agonists (also called bronchodilators) using an inhaler or a machine called a nebulizer. Typically, these medications work within just a few minutes.
- Oral and intravenous corticosteroids: Sometimes, severe asthma attacks are treatable with oral and intravenous corticosteroids. These corticosteroid options can quickly bring down inflammation.
There are several risk factors linked to asthma. Some of these risk factors are present at birth. For instance, being male and Black or Puerto Rican increases the risk of asthma. Other risk factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke, are environmental.
Additional asthma risk factors include having:
- viral infections, including pneumonia at a young age
- a family history of asthma
- a family history of allergies
- an early history of allergic reactions, including skin rashes
- exposure to dust, smoke, or pollution at a young age
- chronic allergies
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- obesity
Can childhood asthma go away?
Asthma is a chronic condition. It doesn’t go away as a child ages.
At what age does childhood asthma resolve?
Children with asthma sometimes experience fewer symptoms as they age, but childhood asthma doesn’t resolve. People with asthma may be symptom-free for months or even years, but something can trigger asthma at any time, causing symptoms to return.
Can you get rid of asthma as a kid?
No, childhood asthma is chronic.
Does childhood asthma permanently damage the lungs?
Childhood asthma causes permanent
Childhood asthma is chronic. However, treatment can help keep the symptoms under control, and most children with asthma are able to lead full and active lives.
Childhood asthma doesn’t resolve when a child grows up. Asthma is a chronic condition, and people with it will always need treatment.
However, treatment can keep the symptoms under control and reduce or eliminate flare-ups. With treatment, children and adults with asthma can manage their condition and lead active lives.
