Passive Smoking Effects on Wheezy Bronchitis

Abstract

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...