Parental smoking and allergic rhinitis in children.
BACKGROUND
Parental smoking is one of the controversial risk factors associated with allergic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between parental smoking and allergic rhinitis; considering confounding factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 671 children aged 2 to 7 years. Random cluster sampling was used to select the participants. The signs and symptoms of allergic rhinitis in children were assessed through standard questionnaires and physical examinations.


RESULTS
In the multivariate analysis, parental smoking (odds ratio [OR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-2.41) was not a significant risk factor for allergic rhinitis; positive family history of allergy was the only significant factor among other factors (OR 23.64; 95% CI, 11.63-48.04). Sex (OR 1.16; 95% CI, 0.60-2.24), family size (OR 1.06; 95% CI, 0.22-5.05), family income (OR 0.60; 95% CI, 0.24-1.47), and parents' education (OR 1.79; 95% CI, 0.61-5.20) were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that there is no significant relationship between parental smoking and allergic rhinitis.
Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and Assistant Professor of Community Medicine, Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad, Iran.
Maryam
M
Salehi
Mehdi
M
Bakhshaee
Sara Jafari
SJ
Ashtiani
Mona
M
Najafi
Samineh
S
Sehatbakhsh
Mana
M
Hossainzadeh
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
allergic rhinitis; children; parental smoking; passive smoking; smoking