title: Association between prenatal and postnatal tobacco smoke exposure and allergies in young children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have shown a positive association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and allergic disorders, whereas epidemiological evidence of the effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on allergic diseases is inconsistent. We investigated the independent and joint effects of in utero exposure to maternal smoking and postnatal ETS exposure at home on allergic disorders among Japanese children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study subjects were 1951 children aged 3 years. Data on maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to ETS at home, allergic symptoms, and potential confounders were collected through the use of a questionnaire. Outcomes were defined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence values of symptoms of wheeze, asthma, and eczema in the previous 12 months were 22.0%, 8.8%, and 17.2%, respectively. We found that postnatal ETS exposure at home in the absence of in utero exposure to maternal smoking was associated with a higher prevalence of wheeze (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.67). In contrast, in utero exposure without subsequent postnatal ETS exposure at home or exposure to postnatal ETS at home in addition to in utero exposure to maternal smoking was not associated with the prevalence of wheeze. No measurable associations were observed between fetal, postnatal, or joint exposure and the prevalence of asthma or eczema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from this study indicate that ETS at home may be associated with a higher prevalence of wheeze among young Japanese children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. k-tanaka@fukuoka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution