Can germs such as viruses and bacteria be a cause of asthma or just the result of infection?

I've often wondered with our little asthmatic if germs such as viruses or bacterium could be an underlying cause of her asthma or just the result of infection after uncontrolled inflammation, etc.?

Well, no matter, at least the infection control is now stable in those little lungs of hers! Another victory for her all natural salt pipe inhaler. Salt truly does rock and is an all natural anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, hydrophilic and mucokinetic not to menton completely calming and cleansing to the cells throughout the entire respiratory tract. Salt is God's gift to respiratory patients... Heh, just like so many cystic fibrosis sufferers who have been finding great relief through hypertonic saline treatments. What a wonderful discovery! :-)