The Impact of Passive Smoking on Pediatric Asthma and Allergy Sensitization.

Abstract

Background: Passive smoking represents a considerable environmental health risk which affects children particularly hard. Passive smoking establishes conditions that lead to asthma and allergic diseases development because it causes immune dysfunction and airway inflammation. Study demonstrates that adolescent exposure to SHS creates more serious asthma symptoms and restricted lung function as well as elevated allergic sensitivity levels.

Objectives: to evaluate passive smoking's effects on asthma along with allergy sensitization in children. Study investigates both the incidence of asthma and allergic diseases alongside the extent of asthma severity caused by passive smoking and lung function declines in affected children.

Study Design: A Cross-sectional observational study.

Place and duration of study. Department of pediatric MTI,LRH Peshawar  from July 2020 to December 2020

Methods:The Study analyzed pediatric patients who received a diagnosis of asthma and allergy between both conditions. The information about passive smoking exposure was obtained by asking parents to fill out survey forms. Lung function tests together with IgE measurements and symptom check-ups were performed. Study data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20.0 and authors presented the primary variables through mean values alongside standard deviations and p-values. The Study determined a p-value less than 0.05 as statistically significant.

Results: Two hundred pediatric patients participated in the study and 120 of them received secondhand smoking exposure while 80 did not. The data indicated that participants possessed a mean age of 8.6 ± 2.3 years (p = 0.02). Asthma affected 65 percent of children who experienced SHS exposure while the prevalence was 40 percent among non-exposed children with results significant at p < 0.001. The exposure to SHS resulted in elevated allergy sensitization rates when compared to nonsmoking children (58% vs. 32% with p = 0.003). Child subjects who were exposed to SHS registered lower FEV1 test results (p = 0.01).

Conclusion: The risks of pediatric asthma and allergic sensitization rise substantially when children are exposed to passive smoking. The exposure to SHS results in increased asthma cases as well as stronger allergic reactions and impaired lung capacity among children. Public health measures such as educational programs for parents and smokings bans should become mandatory for reducing pediatric respiratory health problems.