Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease in which airways carrying the air in and out of the lungs become sore and swollen. The inflammation leads to coughing, wheezing and difficulty in breathing. Childhood asthma has become common around the world. According to the American Lung Association, about 7 million children younger than 18 are affected by this disorder in the United States. Childhood asthma mostly begins in the first five years of life and is treatable. According to MayoClinic.com, causes of asthma can differ for each child. These causes include viral infections and allergens, environmental factors, or respiratory conditions and other factors.
Viral Infections and Allergens
According to MayoClinic.com, viral infections and allergens may lead to childhood asthma. Viral infections such as the common cold may trigger asthma in children. According to Merck.com, children exposed to allergens such as dust mites or cockroach feces are more likely to develop childhood asthma. High exposure to allergens such as pet dander, pollen or mold is also a leading cause of this disease in young children.
Environmental Factors
According to MayoClinic.com, certain environmental factors may result in childhood asthma. Children who are regularly exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke are more likely to develop this disease. Exposure to other environmental pollutants, such as chemicals in indoor air, also increases the risk of asthma in children. Changes in the weather or cold air are also causes.
Respiratory Conditions and Other Factors
According to MayoClinic.com, the occurrence of certain respiratory conditions during childhood may also cause asthma in children. These conditions include rhinitis, characterized by a chronic or stuffy nose. Inflamed sinuses or sinusitis in children is another condition that may cause childhood asthma. The presence of heartburn, in which the stomach acid backs into the food pipe and to the throat, makes children prone to this disease. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, children may also inherit the tendency to develop allergies and asthma. This is called atopy. If asthma or atopy runs in the family, the child's airways are more reactive to potential allergens present in the air they breathe. Merck.com says premature birth, poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lack of breastfeeding are also potential causes of childhood asthma.
