Risk Factors

Asthma often starts in childhood, and when it does, it is often linked with an allergy. House dust mites, animal dander, and fungus are some of the more frequent causes of allergies in children. Although half of all people have an allergy to something, just having an allergy does not automatically put someone at risk for asthma. Also, infants and young children who wheeze (high-pitched whistling sounds when breathing out) when they have a cold or flu, or who have parents who have allergies, are at higher risk for asthma.