Involuntary smoking in infancy and childhood

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to identify the size of the problem of involuntary smoking in infancy and childhood and to assess the prevalence, severity, chronicity and the rate of recurrence of chest problems in infants and children with or without involuntary smoking. The study was conducted at the out patient clinic of Children's Assiut University Hospital. It included 200 infants and children 133 males and 67 females giving a ratio of 2 1, aged from 1 month to 5 years suffering from lower respiratory tract infections in the form of bronchitis, bronchopneumonia and pneumonia. It was concluded that smoking adults produce a lot of harm to the respiratory tract of their children and infants. Parents should be advised, to refrain from smoking or at least not to smoke inside their homes