engleski

The impact of passive smoking on the frequency of respiratory infections in preschool children

Aim: To determine whether passive smoking increases the frequnecy of respiratory infections in children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, in a period from 2011. to 2013., at the pediatric clinics of primary health care Dr. Mira Pavlov, in Sućidar area in Split. The study included 203 preschool children, who were brought to a pediatric clinic by parents for a medical examination. Children were divided into two groups: a group of 114 children whose household members smoked, and a group of 89 children whose household members didn't smoke. We analyzed the frequency of respiratory infections in children in a period from 2011. to 2013. All the necessary data has been obtained by a questionnaire filled out by parents and by insight into the electronic medical records. Results: The difference in the frequency of bronchitis between the group of children whose household members smoked and whose household members didn't smoke was on the border of statistical significance (P = 0, 052). The number of bronchitis was statistically significantly higher in the group of children whose household members smoked inside the home compared to the group of children whose household members didn't smoke (P = 0, 008). The number of cigarettes smoked per day inside the home statistically significantly correlated with the number of bronchitis in children (P = 0, 003). Maternal smoking statistically significantly increased the number of pneumonias in children compared to paternal smoking (P = 0, 001). Children with allergic diseases whose household members smoked didn't have statistically significantly higher number of respiratory infections compared to children with allergic diseases whose household members didn't smoke. Conclusion: Passive smoking increases the frequency of respiratory infections in children, but only if household members smoke inside the home.

tobacco smoke pollution; child; preschool; respiratory tract infections

Rad je prikazan još i u E-poster sekciji