Air travels in and out of the lungs through bronchial tubes.
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of these tubes. This
inflammation causes airways to narrow. This makes it hard to
breath. There are different degrees of asthma. Some people may
have very mild asthma with rare flare-ups. Others may have a
severe, constant asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic
disease found in children. If your child is having trouble
breathing, call 911 immediately. This is a potentially serious
condition that needs immediate medical attention. If it is not
an emergency, but you suspect your child may have asthma,
contact your doctor. With proper treatment, asthma can be
controlled. The exact causes of asthma are unknown. It is
thought that a mix of genes and environment causes asthma.
Possible causes include: - Family history - Tendency to develop
allergies - Respiratory infections - Contact with allergens when
immune system is developing Certain conditions are known to
trigger an asthma attack. These include: - Exercise—especi