In order to explore the correlation between parents' smoking habits and bronchial asthma in children, we undertook a cross-sectional study of 3300 (54% males, 46% females) school children aged 7-12 years old. A survey of smoking habits and attitudes conducted in Saudi Arabia showed a positive correlation between parental smoking and asthma. This study showed a significant link between parental smoking and chest wheeze or whistling, cough, and family history of rhinitis. Evidence is accumulating that there is a relationship between parental smoking and respiratory symptoms in Saudi children. The present study results are clear evidence of a definite association between smoking in the home and bronchial asthma in young children, which not only may present immediate problems, but may also be a cause of illness in the future.

A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among school children (3300), aged 7-12 years, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period January, 1988-February, 1990. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze and eczema among Saudi school children. The relationship between pet-ownership and respiratory allergy was also studied. Detailed information was collected about wheeze and asthma in 3041 children and history of asthma and allergic rhinitis in their parents. The population sample had a high prevalence rate of diagnosed asthma (6.8%), history of wheeze (10.5%), allergic rhinitis (17.9%), and eczema (10.8%). Allergic rhinitis was the most frequently seen respiratory illness when compared to other respiratory symptoms. The prevalence rate of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among parents reflected the same pattern as that seen in the children. Prevalence rate for asthma in children with pets is twice that of children without pets (OR: 2.4; 95%, Cl: 1.8-3.1). The odds of having chronic cough (OR: 3.9; 95% Cl: 2.8-5.2), chronic wheeze (OR: 4.2; 95%, 3.3-5.4), allergic rhinitis (OR: 8.0; 95% Cl: 6.3-10.3) and eczema (OR: 2.8: 95 Cl: 2.1-3.7) was higher in children with pets than in children without pets. The present study revealed that pet-ownership was associated with increased respiratory symptoms.

In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of asthma, hay fever and eczema was studied in 1150 schoolchildren attending school in Jeddah Western region of Saudi Arabia. The family histories of asthma, hay fever and eczema were examined in first degree relatives. The age range of children studied was 7-12 years, with a mean of 9.3 years (47% boys and 53% girls). A self-administered questionnaire was completed by the parents of the child to collect information concerning bronchial asthma, hay fever, and eczema in the target child and family history of respiratory allergy. A detailed family history and personal histories of asthma were available for 1035 Saudi children aged 7-12 years old. The rate of asthma and hay fever were significantly higher among siblings and offspring (cases) compared to their parents (p < 0.001). The results showed a high positive correlation between the relatives of affected children with respect to asthma and hay fever. These findings support the hypothesis that asthma and hay fever may be inherited in the Saudi population, but the mode of inheritance has yet to be determined.

Previous epidemiological studies have associated parental smoking with an increased incidence of lower respiratory illness and bronchial asthma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between parental smoking habits and diagnosed wheezy bronchitis in schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study 3,041 schoolchildren ages seven to 12 years were randomly selected in Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh; representing three different geoclimatic regions of Saudi Arabia. Standardized questionnaires were used in our study. The results showed that paternal smoking had a significant effect on the frequency of wheezing when paternal and maternal smoking were considered separately. There was no considerable variation in the parental smoking habits in three areas. The association between passive smoking and diagnosed wheezy bronchitis and frequency of wheezing attacks was. highly significant (P<0.0001). Overall, the results tend to confirm that there is a real effect of passive smoking on the respiratory health of children and that parental smoking is a risk factor for wheezy bronchitis in children. Ann Saudi Med 1993;13(3):222-225. Epidemiological research evidence from different parts of the world has stressed the hazards of cigarette smoking as an important factor in the cause of respiratory symptoms in children and adults [1][2][3][4]. Passive smoking is associated with increased prevalence and severity of asthma and wheezy bronchitis in children [2-8] and increased respiratory illness and incidence of bronchitis in infants [9,10].Among the harmful effects postulated for passive smoking is an association between parental smoking and bronchial asthma, wheezing, dry cough, and other respiratory symptoms in children [11][12][13][14][15][16]. Effects of parental smoking have also been detected in schoolchildren. The most important risk factor for the development of chronic respiratory symptoms, childhood asthma, chronic cough, and wheezing is cigarette smoking [17,18]. Studies in schoolchildren have shown a significant association between parental smoking and the risk of childhood asthma, chronic cough, occurrence of wheeze and respiratory conditions [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Evidence is accumulating of a relationship between parents smoking and respiratory symptoms in children [24].The aim of the present investigation was to study the association between passive smoking and diagnosed wheezy bronchitis in Saudi schoolchildren; in addition, to confirm the harmful effects of parental smoking habits on respiratory symptoms in children. Material and MethodsThe schoolchildren studied were the subjects of a cross-sectional population study conducted in three different regions: Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah, cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January 1987 and February 1989. Three regions were chosen because they represented three various geoclimatic regions of Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, which has a dry climate, is the capital of Saudi Arabia and has a population of 2.5 m...