Effect of passive smoking on lung function and respiratory infection.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of environmental tobacco smoke to children's health and more specifically to the development of respiratory tract infections and also its influence to their respiratory function.


METHODS
We studied 586 children from the district of west Thrace in Greece aged 5-14 years, randomly selected from 20 primary and 10 secondary schools in regards their exposure to tobacco smoke, and its possible relation with respiratory tract infections. We assessed respiratory function by spirometry. Epidemiological data were also analysed.


RESULTS
Children who were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke had higher risk for upper and lower respiratory tract infections in comparison to children who lived in a smoke free environment (3 fold and 2 fold, respectively. Their lung function was also reduced with decreased values of FEV1, FEF50, PFR (values p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Passive smoking has an unfavorable effect in respiratory function of children and predisposes them to respiratory tract infections. Every effort should be undertaken in order to avoid exposure of children to environmental tobacco smoke.
Chatzimicael
Athanassios
A
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Democritus, University of Thrace, Medical School, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Tsalkidis
Aggelos
A
Cassimos
Dimitrios
D
Gardikis
Stefanos
S
Spathopoulos
Diogenis
D
Tripsianis
Gregorios A
GA
Kambouri
Katerina
K
Aivazis
Victor
V
Vaos
George
G
Bouros
Demosthenes
D
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution