THE DECREASE IN SEVERITY OF ASTHMA IN CHILDREN OF PARENTS WHO SMOKE SINCE THE PARENTS HAVE BEEN EXPOSING THEM TO LESS CIGARETTE SMOKE

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-255
Author(s):  
Martin I. Sachs

Since 1986 an increasing awareness of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke has caused parents to smoke fewer cigarettes in the presence of their asthmatic children. This has been associated with a marked reduction in asthma severity of the smokers' children.

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 2234-2236
Author(s):  
Dan Navolan ◽  
Florin Birsasteanu ◽  
Adrian Carabineanu ◽  
Octavian Cretu ◽  
Diana Liana Badiu ◽  
...  

Cigarette smoke contains over 7000 different substances some of them exerting harmful effects on embryo and pregnant woman. Nowadays 15 % of adult people and around 10-15% of pregnant women smoke. Previous studies showed that cigarette smoke compounds could exert pharmacodinamic effects and influence some of the second trimester biochemical markers concentration. Therefore there is a need to adjust the reference values of second trimester markers depending of the smoker status. The aim of our study was to analyse which of the markers are influenced by smoking and whether the software used to calculate the risk for aneuploidies is able to counterbalance this influence. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) and free estriol (uE3) values were measured in second trimester sera of 1242 pregnant women: 1089 non-smokers and 153 smokers. Only hCG second trimester values were influenced by smoking whereas AFP and uE3 values were not. The correction of medians according to the smoking status was able to counterbalance this effect.


Author(s):  
Emine Vezir ◽  
Ersoy Civelek ◽  
Emine Dibek Misirlioglu ◽  
Muge Toyran ◽  
Murat Capanoglu ◽  
...  

Background: Obese asthma is a complex syndrome with certain phenotypes that differ in children and adults. There is no clear evidence regarding the presence of additive or synergistic pathological interaction between obesity and asthma in children. Objectives: Our aim was to demonstrate the interaction of obesity and asthma in children in terms of airway and systemic inflammation by a controlled observational study. Methods: Four groups were formed: asthma obese (AO), asthma nonobese (ANO), non-AO (NAO), nonasthma nonobese (NANO). Spirometry test, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) test, skin prick test, serum inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein, C3, C4, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, periostin, YKL-40, Type 1, and Type 2 cytokines) were conducted and evaluated in all participants. Sputum inflammatory cells (sputum eosinophils and neutrophils) were evaluated in patients who could produce induced sputum and obesity-asthma interactions were determined. Results: A total of 153 participants aged 6–18 years were included in the study, including the AO group (n = 46), the ANO group (n = 45), the NAO group (n = 30), and the NANO group (n = 32). IL-4 (p < 0.001), IL-5 (p < 0.001), IL-13 (p < 0.001), resistin (p < 0.001), and YKL-40 (p < 0.001) levels were higher in patients with asthma independent of obesity. The lowest adiponectin level was found in the AO group and obesity-asthma interaction was detected (p < 0.001). Sputum eosinophilia (p < 0.01), sputum neutrophilia (p < 0.01), and FeNO levels (p = 0.07) were higher in asthmatic patients independent of obesity. In the group with paucigranulocytic inflammation, resistin and YKL-40 levels were significantly lower than in the group without paucigranulocytic inflammation (p < 0.01). Conclusion: No interaction was found between obesity and asthma in terms of airway inflammation. Interaction between obesity and asthma was shown in terms of adiponectin level and resistin/adiponectin and leptin/adiponectin ratios. It was found that serum YKL-40 and resistin levels could be associated with airway inflammation.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. A78-A78
Author(s):  
B. H.

Parental concern about secondhand smoke is adding a new wrinkle to some custody and divorce battles. Estranged spouses are taking an increasingly aggressive court stance when a child is exposed to cigarette smoke of one parent. Secondhand smoke has become a point of contention in custody cases in more than a dozen states, almost all involving children with respiratory ailments such as asthma and allergies. And smoking may become an issue in many more custody cases, according to some lawyers. Recent medical reports have cited the heightened likelihood of respiratory disease and middle-ear infection even in healthy children exposed to secondhand smoke. In at least one case a judge has been asked to rule that exposing a child with medical problems to cigarette smoke constitutes child abuse.


1990 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julio Cesar R. Pereira ◽  
Fleming Carswell ◽  
Anthony O. Hughes

Seventy four asthmatic children aged 7 to 11 years were examined along with controls matched by age and sex. Clinical and laboratory investigations preceded a 28-day follow-up where data about morning and evening peak expiratory flow rate (PEF), symptoms and treatment were recorded. The coefficient of variation of PEF was found to be an objective measurement of asthma severity that has statistically significant correlation with both symptoms (r s= .36) and treatment (r s= .60). Moreover, it separates mild and severe asthmatics, as confirmed by statistically significant differences (p= .008 or less) in symptoms, treatment, skin allergy and airways response to exercise. Skin allergy and airways responsiveness to exercise were found to be predictors of both disease and severity. By means of logistic regression analysis it was possible to establish the probabilities for both asthma and severe asthma when children presenting and not presenting these characteristics are compared. One single positive skin test represent a probability of 88% for the development of asthma and a probability of 70% for severe disease. A PEF reduction of 10% after an exercise test implies a probability of 73% for disease and a probability of 64% for severe disease. Increases in these variables imply geometrically increased risks and their presence together have a multiplicative effect in the final risk.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inas R. EL-Alameey ◽  
Gihan A. Fathy ◽  
Mones M. Abu Shady ◽  
Alaa Ali ◽  
Hanan A. Fathy ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic airway disease which is characterized by oxidant antioxidant imbalance with the generation of oxidative stress related mediators.AIM: The study aimed to evaluate the role of asymmetric dimethylarginine, and malondialdehyde as oxidant markers and serum paraoxonase activity as an antioxidant marker in asthma, and to determine their relationship to the asthma severity and lung function among asthmatic children in Egypt.PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case control study was conducted on sixty patients with asthma compared with sixty apparently healthy children of matched age and sex.RESULTS: Serum concentrations of oxidant markers as asymmetric dimethylarginine and malondialdehyde were significantly increased in asthmatic patients while anti-oxidant marker as paraoxonase activity was significantly decreased compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). ANOVA test revealed highly significant elevation of the serum concentrations of oxidant markers while anti-oxidant marker was significantly decreased in severe asthmatic patients (P < 0.001) compared to the patients with moderate and mild asthma respectively. Serum malondialdehyde concentration was a strong predictor of asthma severity by multiple regression analysis (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The study revealed an imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant defence systems in asthmatic children. Serum concentration of malondialdehyde was the most predictive biomarker having a significant association with asthma severity.


Author(s):  
P.N. Babaev ◽  

Purpose. To study the number of medical appeals and the incidence of school-age children in Baku, exposed to passive smoking in their families. Material and methods. Schoolchildren were given 5000 questionnaires; the response was 2363 questionnaires (39.4±0.6%). The collected questionnaires of schoolchildren contained the answers of a total of 3895 parents, of which 1885 were fathers and 2010 were mothers. All schoolchildren were divided into 2 groups: 818 schoolchildren whose parents were tobacco-dependent and 1545 schoolchildren whose parents were tobacco-dependent. Depending on the degree of tobacco dependence of parents, 818 schoolchildren were divided into groups: group 1 – non-systematic smoking of parents (about 5 cigarettes a day), tobacco dependence is weak, there are no visible effects on health – 204 schoolchildren; 2nd group – habitual smoking of parents (5–15 cigarettes per day), moderate tobacco dependence, a number of negative effects on health are manifested – 252 schoolchildren; Group 3 – parents' addiction (more than 15 cigarettes a day), severe tobacco dependence, pronounced dysfunctions of various organs are manifested – 362 schoolchildren. We analyzed the outpatient medical records of children in the district children's polyclinics and determined their medical appealss and the degree of morbidity. Results. It was found that despite the widespread anti-tobacco campaign, in 34.6±1.0% of families in Baku, schoolchildren continue to be exposed to the effects of secondhand smoke, which has a detrimental effect on their eye health. The medical appeals of schoolchildren to children's polyclinics increase by 1.95 times and the level of their morbidity increases by 1.35 times, and in families whose parents smoke more than 15.0 cigarettes/ day it reaches 79.8±2.5%. Conclusion. A wide accessible educational campaign among parents is needed, the main argument of which should be the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on the health of the eyes of children. Key words: passive smoking, schoolchildren, health, eye care, vision protection.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 460-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Strunk ◽  
David A. Mrazek ◽  
Jolene T. Fukuhara ◽  
Jim Masterson ◽  
Susan K. Ludwick ◽  
...  

Abnormalities in fitness in asthmatic children are assumed to derive from illness severity. We studied 90 children with moderately severe to severe but stable asthma for (1) fitness levels using bicycle ergometry, (2) measures of asthma severity, (3) clinician's impression of child (Child Global Assessment Scale), and (4) mother's rating of child's behavior (Child Behavior Checklist). Fitness values ranged from 15% to 120% of normal values for age, sex, and body surface area: 48% were abnormal (&lt;2 SD below mean) and 5% were borderline (1 to 2 SD below mean). Associations between levels of fitness and medical and psychologic criteria were tested using regression analyses. Of the 11 medical variables used to define the severity of asthma, recent exacerbation of disease, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and specific airway conductance together accounted for 8.1% of the variability in the workload ratios (ie, R2 = 0.081). The importance of the psychologic factors in determining the variability in the workload ratios was tested after the importance of the medical variables had been considered: Child Global Assessment Scale accounted for a significant amount of variability, improving the R2 to 0.180 (an increase to 0.100, P = .003). These data suggest that, within the spectrum of disease presented by the patients in this study, adjustment to the disease is at least as important as severity of disease in determining fitness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-70
Author(s):  
Mohammed Haruna Yeldu ◽  
Mohammed Danjuma ◽  
Mainasara Abdullahi Sulaiman ◽  
Jiya Nma Muhammad ◽  
Garba Balkisu Illah ◽  
...  

Background: Asthma is a common chronic disorder of the airways that is complex and characterized by variable and recurring symptoms. It is characterized by the occurrence of bronchial hyper responsiveness, airflow obstruction and an underlying inflammation. Several studies have proposed the association of vitamin D with increased incidence of asthma symptoms. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed at determining the serum vitamin D status and biochemical parameters among asthmatic children in Sokoto-Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 120 subjects including 80 asthmatic children and 40 age-and sex-matched apparently healthy controls from two tertiary Hospitals in Sokoto Metropolis. Serum vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), immunoglobulin E (IgE) and magnesium were measured using standard techniques. Results: Mean serum vitamin D and magnesium were significantly (p ˂ 0.05) lower, while serum PTH and IgE were significantly higher (p˂0.001) in asthmatic children than in controls. Vitamin D insufficiency was found to be prevalent among the asthmatic children. There was no significant relationship between the low level of vitamin D and asthma severity. Conclusion: This study observed that, hypovitaminosis D and hypomagnesaemia occurred among asthmatic children, and asthma was more prone in the younger children than in their older counterpart. It is recommended that in order to avoid or limit the rate of children having asthmatic episodes, vitamin D and magnesium supplements should be used in the management of asthmatic children.


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