Infants of smoking mothers

Abstract

Knowledge of the adverse effects of tobacco products on the health of the adult has long gained acceptance. Scientists and clinicians are now unraveling the multifaceted relationship between tobacco smoke and human development starting from the intrauterine and possibly periconceptional phase. Evidence now correlates maternal smoke to derangement of organogenesis, decreased organ function and poorer neurodevelopmental performance. However, findings are not always unequivocal mainly because of methodological problems. In this chapter, we will critically address some of the current issues focusing on the available clinical evidence to give the reader a practical approach to the infant of the smoking mother.