The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The health consequences of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) among children have been the subject of intense scientific and public health concern. This is a study to determine the association of exposure to parental passive smoking to changes in pulmonary function of children

Methods: : Four hundred fourty one children aged 7-15 years were studied. The consent from the parents were taken from all subjects included in study. The demographic detailed including in house smoking, ETS exposure, children respiratory illness etc were collected. All children were subjected to spirometric evaluation. . Indoor samples were collected to measure SO2, NO2 and SPM level.

Results: There were 441 (M=59%, F=41%) children with age group of 7-15 years. 34.9% children were exposed to ETS. Out of these 74.2% of family members used to smoke in front of children and 83% were aware about harmful effect of smoking on the child health (p=0.019). The children (34.9%) exposure to ETS has respiratory symptom in the form of Cough, Phlegm, Shortness of breath, Rhinitis, Wheezing, Common cold etc. Family history of smoking has significant effect on respiratory symptoms of children (p=0.01). In smokers house there is significant high level of SO2 (p=0.07), NO2 (p=0.028) and SPM (p=0.001). The pulmonary function test was done in all the children. FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC was measured and those children who were not able to do spirometry, PEFR was measured. 18.58% children showed mild to moderate degree of airway obstruction.