Relationship between exposure to tobacco smoke and bronchial asthma in children: a review.

Asthma is a common chronic childhood disease yet not much is known about factors that determine its outcome. Cigarette smoke has been associated with lung cancer in adults but its effects on children has hitherto been underestimated and not well studied. Cigarette smoke has been noted through various research studies to influence the development and or the exacerbation of asthma in childhood. Furthermore the prevalence of childhood asthma is higher among the children of smoking parents, more so when both parents are smokers as compared to those of non-smoking parents. Corroborative evidence indicates elevated urine cotinine levels amongst children of smoking parents than those of non-smoking parents. There is a corresponding increase in prevalence and exacerbation of asthma symptoms among children with raised urine cotinine levels than those with low levels. The presence of other risk factors increases the risk of development and exacerbation of bronchial asthma in children exposed to tobacco smoke than those not exposed. Cigarette smoking is on the increase, especially in developing countries due to aggressive advertising and exportation by the tobacco industry from developed countries. International legislation is needed to regulate the production and exportation of tobacco products. However, this may be resisted by the influential tobacco industry and may not get the support from the developing countries due to economic gains from the sale of tobacco products. This scenario poses major health problems for the developing countries in the future.