Environmental tobacco smoke and its effect on the symptoms and medication in children with asthma.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) worsens asthmatic symptoms. We analyzed the relationship between levels of ETS and asthmatic symptoms and medication. We asked parents of 282 asthmatic children about the general condition, smoke exposure and medication. Patients were classified into three groups: no-ETS (no smoking), mild-ETS (smoking in the house but not in the same room as patient), and heavy-ETS (smoking in the same room as patient). We classified 116 children in no-ETS group, 124 children in mild-ETS group and 42 children in heavy-ETS group. The symptoms were worst and prevalence of leukotriene receptor antagonist and long-acting beta(2)-agonist use were highest in heavy-ETS group. However, there was no statistical difference between no-ETS and mild-ETS groups in prevalence of anti-asthmatic drug use and symptoms. We conclude that a smoking ban in rooms used by asthmatic children is an easy way to reduce ETS, asthmatic symptoms and the use of anti-asthmatic drugs.
Yamasaki
Akira
A
Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tottori, Japan. yamasaki@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
Hanaki
Keichi
K
Tomita
Katsuyuki
K
Watanabe
Masanari
M
Hasagawa
Yasuyuki
Y
Okazaki
Ryota
R
Igishi
Tadashi
T
Horimukai
Kenta
K
Fukutani
Kouji
K
Sugimoto
Yuji
Y
Yamamoto
Mitsunobu
M
Kato
Kazuhiro
K
Ikeda
Toshikazu
T
Konishi
Tatsuya
T
Tokuyasu
Hirokazu
H
Yajima
Hiroki
H
Sejima
Hitoshi
H
Isobe
Takeshi
T
Shimizu
Eiji
E
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D011640:Public Policy; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution