Passive smoking and lower respiratory tract illnesses in children

Abstract

The relationship between household tobacco smoke exposure and wheezing and non-wheezing lower respiratory tract illnesses in young children was investigated using both a questionnaire and the urinary cotinine/creatinine ratio to assess passive smoking. A case-control study was conducted on 60 children (≤5 years) with lower respiratory tract illnesses and 40 control children. The results showed that household passive smoking may be a predisposing and/or aggravating factor for lower respiratory tract illnesses in young children whether wheezing or nonwheezing, infective or noninfective. Parents' assessment of their own level of smoking may be inaccurate and objective biochemical measures of passive smoking are needed to identify its risks.