DODMERB stuff/asthma

[alphaone]

Can I get an explanation as to why 13 is the age cutoff for asthma symptoms? If someone does not have asthma, why does it matter if it is 16 or 13 the last time they exibited symptoms?

[My Flight Surgeon]

I don't know what you are referring to. There is not a cut-off age for asthma. The National Institutes of Health standards differential the diagnosis of those age 5 or less versus those older than 5. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof...e/practgde.pdf

Asthma can occur at any age.

[alphaone]

Sorry, I wasn't specific enough. For qualifying for a the Military in the ROTC program, one cannot have any past history of asthma from age 13 and on. I am curious as to why this is the case?

[My Flight Surgeon]

It falls into adult asthma and they don't want someone with difficulty breathing tramping through the desert too short of breath to fight.

[H46Bubba]

If you've had any history of asthma past age 13, you're done! Now if you're already in the military and are diagnosed with asthma, depending on the the severity, will determine if they want to keep you in. I had a reaction to the antrax vaccine and had was diagnosed with mild persistant asthma. I couldn't deploy due to having to remain close to a major military medical facility. Luckily I was on shore duty, so I was able to prolong my time in the Navy. They tried all sorts of medication. I felt like a guniea pig for Navy pulomonary science. They were just trying to find a way to get it under control and get me back to fulll duty. Didn't happen so I was medically discarged.