Asthma as a child. Symptom-free as an adult?

Of 123 individuals hospitalized as children (aged 5-15 years) because of asthma over a 10-year period (1953-1962), four are dead of whom three died of asthma at follow-up 23-31 years later. Using a survey questionnaire, 64 (53%) of the 117 responders (response rate 98%) claimed to be completely symptom-free. The rest were still suffering from their disease. Of the 31 symptom-free individuals still living in the community, two had decreased lung volumes and seven had positive methacholine provocation tests at re-examination, thus indicating hyperreactivity. Twenty-five individuals showed both positive skin prick tests and Phadiatop allergy tests. Nineteen individuals were suffering from allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. So, of symptom-free adults hospitalized for asthma in childhood, nearly a quarter (23%) had hyperreactive airways. The occurrence of positive skin prick test/Phadiotop and rhinoconjunctivitis was, however, even higher (80% and 61% respectively), thereby indicating that the disappearance of allergy may not be a prerequisite for restoration to health in asthma.