Graphic Online BY: Dr Sandra Kwarteng Owusu Category: Health 705 Asthma is a non-communicable disease (non-contagious disease) that affects the breathing tubes (the airways within the lungs). It can have significant impact on affected individuals. Asthma is a long-term disease (chronic disease) and is the most common chronic respiratory disease (long-term respiratory disease) in childhood. Childhood asthma In children living with asthma, many intrinsic factors mainly inflammation (swelling) can cause the breathing tubes to fill up or become plugged, thus making it difficult for them to breathe out because air cannot move freely out of the breathing tubes. People living with asthma mainly struggle to breath out (expiratory air flow limitation). Although asthma is not a genetic disorder, it may run in some families.