engleski

The influence of parental smoking on the incidence of respiratory infections in children under school age

Aim: Was to investigate the effect of parental smoking on the incidence of respiratory infections in children from birth to their enrollment in primary school. Patients and methods: The study was conducted by a retrospective analysis of data from medical records of 1003 six year old children and by interviewing children parents during mandatory systematic review according to the Program of measures in Republic of Croatia. All children belonging to the same team of school physician upon enrollment in the school, from school year 1998/99 to 2001/2, in Maksimir quarter, in the city of Zagreb were covered. The incidence of diagnosed acute infections of respiratory tract was monitored. Results: The results suggest that at preschool age in a total of 513 families, or even 51, 15%, children were exposed to passive smoking ; in 116 families mother was smoking, in 184 fathers, and in 213, both parents. In the group of parent’s non-smokers 31, 02% children had respiratory infections at least once a year. In the group of parents who are smokers the incidence of respiratory infections was, 65, 52% in children of mothers’ smokers, 66, 85% in the fathers’ smokers and 74, 65% of children both parents smokers, and the difference was statistically significant. There was a connection between smoking parents with frequent respiratory infections in children, the largest odds ratio (OR) if both parents are smokers (OR 3.68), if only father is a smoker (OR 2.25) and only mother (OR 1.98). Greater chance of infection was in boys (OR 1.60) and also higher BMI in children enrolling in primary school (1.04). According to the study, the ratio of the probability of infections increased with lower educational status of parents who smoked more. Conclusion: The impact of passive smoking on the incidence of respiratory infections in children, and early and late health and other general society consequences are important public health problem that requires constant preventive measures.

parental smoking; respiratory infections

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