Causes Of Childhood Asthma

Being Aware Of The Many Causes Of Childhood Asthma Can Help Parents Protect Their Children.

Asthma is a medical condition where the airways narrow in reaction to an allergen. The narrowing of the airways causes a person to wheeze and gasp, making breathing very difficult. Asthma is a common condition in children especially, and as many as 5 million children in the U. S. Suffer from asthma. There are many causes of childhood asthma. Most commonly, medical professionals find that the immune system is overly sensitive and reacts to certain allergens. Allergens can include such things as smoke, pet dander or pollen.

While allergens are responsible for causing asthma flare ups, they do not need to be present to constrict the airways. Sometimes asthma occurs even when there are no allergens. There are other causes of childhood asthma including weather changes and cold, dry air. Many children suffer from asthma symptoms when the fall and winter months set in and the air is dry. In order to prevent these causes of childhood asthma from occurring, parents can place humidifiers in a child's bedrooms. Tobacco smoke and air pollutants are other causes of childhood asthma. Fortunately, it has become much easier over time to keep children away from tobacco smoke, but air pollutants are still plenty.

Especially in city areas where factories and transportation are abundant, these pollutants are prime causes of childhood asthma symptoms. When a child has chronic allergies, being sick or having certain medical conditions also serve as causes of childhood asthma. Viral infections, sinus infections, colds, and a consistent runny nose are all found to be causes of childhood asthma. In addition, there are certain risk factors that make a child more likely to develop asthma during childhood. Genetics play an important role in the onset of asthma, so having a family background can determine whether a child will be at risk for asthma. Other causes of childhood asthma include low birth weight, obesity and previous allergies. It is important that these causes of childhood asthma are controlled as much as possible to prevent severe and chronic flare ups of asthma.