The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The main purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of passive smoking as a risk factor for early onset asthma in children.

Methods: Asthmatic children hospitalized during 2004, due to an acute asthma attack were examined by clinical and laboratory parameters and written questionnaires as well. 141 asthmatic children were included, age range 3 to 14 years.

Results: Out of 141 children 82 had first wheezing episode during the first year of life – target group, remaining 59 children had first wheezing later in infancy. Parental smoking (mothers) has been presented in 41,5% in target group while 29,5% od mothers were active smokers in the late onset group. The correlation between parental smoking with early wheezing in infancy was statistically significant (p<0,05). Long duration of mother's smoking experience and increased number of sigarettes smoked per day before pregnancy statistically correlated with early beginning of asthma (p<0,012, p<0, 04). Father's smoking habits correlated with the same pattern (p<0,026). Negative correlation and no statistical significance between two groups were found for asthma severity, allergic status. Conclusion was that exposure to active smoking of mothers, duration of her smoking experience before pregnancy and increased number of cigarettes smoked per day before pregnancy significantly correlated with early onset of asthma in children.