Relationship between passive tobacco smoke exposure in the first year of life and the development of allergic asthma in 5-years old children
Abstract
Background: The asthma prevalence continues to rise. Higher prevalence is observed in children whose mothers smoked before or during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to asses whether there is some difference in asthma prevalence between children who had been and those who had never been exposed passively to tobacco smoke (PTS).
Methods: This study included 556 children with birth weight at least 3000 g, exclusively breast fed for 6 month and with a positive history of parental allergy confirmed by allergy testing. Regarding PTS exposure in the first year of life, they were divided in four groups: Group A of 368 children of non-smoking parents, Group B of 52 children with both smoking parents, Group C of 58 children with a mother smoker and Group D of 83 children with a father smoker. Physician’s diagnosis of asthma was ascertained with IgE testing and positive skin prick testes. SPSS software 11.0 (chi-square analysis with Yates’ correction) was used for statistical analyses. P-values less than 0.01 were considered significant.
Results :At the age of 5 34.9% of children exposed to PTS (in group B 50%, C 53.45% and in D 12.05% of children), and only 7.16% of non-exposed children (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in group B and C where mother was smoking (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Significant association between PTS exposure in the first year of life and the development of asthma was demonstrated. The prevalence of asthma was higher in children whose mothers or both parents smoked.
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References
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