BOSTON -- It's the most common chronic disease in children. And some of the biggest triggers of asthma are dust, pollen and pets. But as NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner reported Thursday, local researchers have uncovered other possible causes.

They've been around for more than 2 million years. And they've always been unwanted guests. But the damage cockroaches can cause may take your breath away.

"Most of the reason for allergies among children in inner cities was allergies to cockroaches," said Dr. Daniel Remick, a pathologist with Boston University School of Medicine.

Remick spent the past 10 years studying cockroaches as an asthma trigger. The latest research is going on inside a lab at BUSM. But it began with a vacuum inside a Michigan apartment infested with cockroaches.

"We got a bunch of of house dust, measured the cockroach allergens and then got a large amount of dust," said Remick.

Back in the lab, mice were given dust from where the children with asthma lived. The results: the mice got asthma.

"They will wheeze," Remick said. "And when we look at the lungs under the microscope it looks like they have asthma. You can see here is the black dots is the inflammatory response in a mouse who has asthma. This is very similar to a human who has asthma."

At Brigham and Women's hospital, Dr. Michael Wechsler heads up the Asthma Research Center where scientists are trying to learn more about asthma.

"We're really trying to figure out what causes asthma," Wechsler said.

A recent study at Brigham and Women's uncovered a possible link between vitamin D deficiency and asthma. Researchers followed more than 600 Costa Rican children with severe asthma.

"Patients who have lower vitamin D levels have a greater likelihood of developing asthma," Wechsler said.

Researchers aren't sure why vitamin D deficiency could trigger asthma. They're hoping to do more studies. Meanwhile, at the Asthma Research Center, Wechsler reminds all his patients to know their triggers.

"The best thing that you can do is really avoid those allergens," he said.

Stay indoors if you have outdoor allergens, like grass and pollen.

Avoid pets if you're allergic to animal dander.

Avoid dust and pests, like cockroaches and mice, by keeping your homes clean.