Early exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and the development of allergic diseases in 4 year old children in Malmö, Sweden

Abstract

BackgroundEarlier studies have shown an association between secondhand tobacco smoke and allergy development in children. Furthermore, there is an increased risk of developing an allergy if the parents have an allergy. However, there are only few studies investigating the potential synergistic effect of secondhand tobacco smoke and allergic heredity on the development of an allergy.MethodsThe study was population-based cross-sectional with retrospective information on presence of secondhand tobacco smoke during early life. The study population consisted of children who visited the Child Health Care (CHC) centres in Malmö for their 4-year health checkup during 2006-2008 and whose parents answered a self-administered questionnaire (n = 4,278 children). The questionnaire was distributed to parents of children registered with the CHC and invited for the 4-year checkup during the study period.ResultsThere was a two to four times increased odds of the child having an allergy or having sought medical care due to allergic symptoms if at least one parent had an allergy, while there were rather small increased odds related to presence of secondhand smoke during the child's first month in life or at the age of 8 months. However, children with heredity for allergies and with presence of secondhand tobacco smoke during their first year in life had highly increased odds of developing an allergy and having sought medical care due to allergic symptoms at 4 years of age. Thus, there was a synergistic effect enhancing the independent effects of heredity and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke on allergy development.ConclusionsChildren with a family history of allergies and early exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke is a risk group that prevention and intervention should pay extra attention to. The tobacco smoke effect on children is an essential and urgent question considering it not being self chosen, possibly giving life lasting negative health effects and being possible to reduce.

Role of Environmental Factors in the Development of Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis

“…First-hand or second-hand exposure to tobacco smoke is a major risk factor for the development of asthma [8,9], while smoking cessation improves asthma symptoms and control [10]. Tobacco smoke has also been shown to be associated with allergic sensitization and sensitization to food allergens [8].…”

Tobacco smoke exposure and allergic sensitization in children: A propensity score analysis

“…7 However, there have also been many studies that showed a negative (increased risk) or neutral effect of ETS on allergic sensitization or allergy-related disease. [8][9][10][11] A major concern of all the human studies done to date is that there are differences in other variables (covariates) between children of smoking and non-smoking households, which may lead to a biased estimate of the 'true' effect of ETS. The gold standard for evaluation of the effect of an exposure (tobacco smoke in this case) on an outcome is through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) whereby covariate balance is presumed through the process of randomization.…”

Association between passive smoking and atopic dermatitis in dogs

“…Recent studies conducted in Sweden and Germany have shown that children exposed to tobacco smoke when very young have a higher risk of developing allergic diseases (including atopic eczema) than unexposed children (Kramer et al, 2004;Bohme et al, 2010;Hansen et al, 2010). One of these studies, performed in Sweden on a cohort of children followed until the age of four years, showed that those from families with a history of allergies exposed to second-hand tobacco during their first year of life were much more likely to develop an allergy than children without such a family background exposed to second-hand smoke.…”

“…The most recent studies have tended to show an association between the development of atopic dermatitis in infants and passive exposure to tobacco smoke (Kramer et al, 2004;Bohme et al, 2010;Hansen et al, 2010), although some studies have reported inconclusive results (Ownby and McCullough, 1988;Strachan and Cook, 1998;Hjern et al, 2001;Hancox et al, 2008).…”

“…An indoor lifestyle is strongly associated with the development of the disease in dogs (Favrot et al, 2010). House dust mites are the allergens most frequently implicated in human atopy, but a role for pollutants, such as tobacco smoke, which concentrates in indoor environments, has also been suspected (Strachan and Cook, 1998;Kramer et al, 2004;Hancox et al, 2008;Bohme et al, 2010;Hansen et al, 2010).…”