Predicting the duration of childhood asthma.

This article examines the hypothesis that children with long-term (continuing) asthma attacks are more likely to suffer from allergy-related conditions such as eczema and hayfever than are children who suffer for only a short period of time. The analyses were based on a large British national cohort of children who were studied from birth to 16 years of age. The findings provide evidence in support of the "allergic" model since those with short duration asthma report less eczema, hayfever, and sneezing than do those with long-standing asthma. Short-term asthmatics also report fewer occurrences of bronchitis, pneumonia, and chest infections than those with continuing asthma. These differences suggest that there are underlying etiological differences in children suffering from short- and long-term asthma.