The Effects of Second-hand Smoke Exposure on Asthma Symptoms in Children

Abstract

Objective − The aim of study was to evaluate the effects of parental smoking and tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) on asthma symptoms in children, and to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of TSE for asthmatic children.

Methods − A modified and validated questionnaire on TSE was completed by 76 parents and their children who were being treated at Srebrnjak Children’s Hospital for asthma. Patients filled in a standardized ACT questionnaire about their asthma symptoms, whereas parental smoking data were derived from a questionnaire filled in by the parents. The answers were structured as ordinal and categorical variables. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed.

Results −There are statistically significant differences in the frequency of asthma symptoms in children depending on whether household members smoked cigarettes, with statistically significant differences in the frequency of asthma symptoms in children depending on whether their parents smoked cigarettes outside the house, only in one/certain room or everywhere in the house. 34.1% of smoking parents vs 9.4% of nonsmoking parents allow smoking in a car while the child is riding in it. 40.9% of parents who smoke vs 21.9% of non-smoking parents believe that their child is exposed to tobacco smoke somewhere other than in their household or car.

Conclusion − TSE is associated with more symptoms and worse asthma control in asthmatic children.