What makes a child more likely to develop asthma?

What makes a child more likely to develop asthma?

There are many risk factors for developing childhood asthma. These include:

• Allergies.
• Family history of asthma, allergies and atopy (a genetic, or inherited, likelihood to develop allergies and asthma).
• Frequent respiratory infections.
• Low birth weight.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke before and/or after birth.
• Being male.
• Being African American.
• Being raised in a low-income environment.

In children who are under five years of age, the most common cause of asthma symptoms is upper respiratory viral infections such as the common cold.