Elsevier

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 118, Issue 2, February 1991, Pages 207-214
The Journal of Pediatrics

Original article
Relationship of parental smoking to wheezing and nonwheezing lower respiratory tract illnesses in infancy†

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(05)80484-6Get rights and content

The relationship between parental smoking and lower respiratory tract illness (LRI) was studied in a large cohort of infants followed prospectively from birth. illnesses were diagnosed by physicians using agreed-on criteria, and parental smoking histories were obtained by questionnaire. The LRIs were differentiated into wheezing and nonwheezing episodes, and the age at first illness of either type was evaluated in relation to smoking by parents. The odds of having an LRI were significantly higher in children whose mothers smoked (odds ratio 1.52; confidence interval 1.07 to 2.15). The odds were higher if the mother smoked a pack of cigarettes or more per day and if the child stayed home rather than attending day care (odds ratio 2.8; confidence interval 1.43 to 5.5). Logistic regression indicated that the LRI rate was significantly elevated both in children exposed to heavy maternal smoke in the absence of day care, and in those who use day care but were not exposed to maternal smoking of a pack or more per day. These findings could nor be attributed to other confounding variables. Nelther paternal smoking nor smoking by other household members was consistently related to the LRI rate. The relationship of maternal smoking to LRI rate was evident for both wheezing and nonwheezing illnesses. Maternal smoking of a pack or more per day was also related to an early age at first LRI, for both wheezing (p<0.05) and nonwheezing (p<0.002) illnesses. In sum, maternal smoking is associated with a higher rate of LRIs in the first year, particularly when mothers smoked a pack or more per day and when the child did not use day care.

References (33)

  • FergussonDM et al.

    Parental smoking and lower respiratory illness in the first three years of life

    J Epidemiol Community Health

    (1981)
  • PedreiraFA et al.

    Involuntary smoking and incidence of respiratory illness, during the first year of life

    Pediatrics

    (1985)
  • LeederSR et al.

    Influence of family factors on the incidence of lower respiratory illness during the first year of life

    Br J Prev Soc Med

    (1976)
  • BurchfielCM et al.

    Passive smoking in childhood

    Am Rev Respir Dis

    (1986)
  • RantakallioP

    Relationship of maternal smoking to morbidity and mortality of the child up to the age of five

    Acta Paediatr Scand

    (1978)
  • PullanCR et al.

    Breast-feeding and respiratory syncytial virus infection

    B Med J

    (1980)

    • Cited by (0)

    †

    Supported by a Specialized Center of Research Grant (No. 14136) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

    *

    The Group Health Medical Associates staff includes John Bean, MD, Henry Bianchi, MD, John Curtiss, MD, John Ey, MD, Robert Moss, MD, James Rothschild, MD, Alejandro Sauguineti, MD, Barbara Smith, MD, Neil West, MD, Terry Vondrak, MD, and Maureen McLellen, RN, PNP.

    View full text
    Copyright © 1991 Published by Mosby, Inc.