Causes of Inflammation. Inflammation can be caused by a number of factors that can damage cells but is broadly divided into 1  : Physical – can be mechanical as in a car accident injury or assault or environmental like severe cold and heat (burns).2  Chemical – for example: Acid ‘burns’, drugs, venom.nflammation is a process and not a disease, however it may require treatment if it continues to persist or is causing significant discomfort in the lack of any threat to tissue integrity. In chronic conditions, inflammation is usually persistent but low grade, with occasional acute aggravations.