Urinary cotinine as a measure of passive smoke exposure in asthmatic children.

This study sought to determine (1) the association between passive smoke exposure and acute symptoms in asthmatic children and (2) the association between parental report and objective measures of passive smoke exposure. Asthmatic children ages 3 to 11 were eligible for the study, which involved measurement of smoke exposure by questionnaire and by urine sample at a time of an acute asthma attack and then later when the child was symptom-free. High levels of passive smoke exposure were detected at both times in most children. Parental report of passive smoke exposure correlated with urinary measure of exposure.