Evaluation of Children with Asthma Followed Up at Our Clinic in Terms of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Through Their Parents

Smoking exposure in asthmatic children

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate exposure to secondhand smoking in the prenatal and postnatal period through parents in pediatric patients under the age of five years diagnosed with asthma who were followed up at our clinic.

Methods: A questionnaire form filled by mother and father to evaluate passive smoking exposures were applied to 52 patients with asthma under five years who were admitted to our clinic.

Results: Of the 52 patients, six (11.5%) were exposed to smoking during the intrauterine period, six (11.5%) during the breastfeeding period, and 12 (23%) were currently exposed to smoking through their mothers. For smoking mothers, the age of onset of smoking was 13–20 (mean: 17.3 ± 2.49) years. The mean daily amount of smoking by mothers was found to be 8.5 ± 5.88 cigarettes/day. The number of smoking fathers was 31 (59.6%), and the mean daily amount of smoking by fathers was found to be 18.2 ± 9.6 cigarettes/day.

Conclusion: Smoking exposure from asthma risk factors remains important. The harm due to smoking exposure during breastfeeding should be emphasized. There is a need to raise awareness-raising training in this regard.