Respiratory illness, maternal smoking habit and lung function in children.

Two hundred and fourteen children aged 7-11 years had tests of lung function performed. Mothers were asked about their past and current smoking habits and whether their children had ever had pneumonia or severe bronchitis. The findings suggest a relationship between early childhood bronchitis or pneumonia and impairment of lung function in later childhood and also suggest that maternal smoking habit may contribute directly to impairment of lung function in children.