Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Effect of gestational and passive smoke exposure on ear infections in children

Judith E C Lieu1, Alvan R Feinstein

  • 1Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven CT, USA. lieuj@msnotes.wustl.edu

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|February 9, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Maternal smoking during pregnancy (gestational exposure) and combined smoke exposure slightly increased ear infection risk. Combined exposure significantly increased recurrent ear infections in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Otitis media (OM) is a common childhood illness.
  • Tobacco smoke exposure is a known risk factor for various health issues in children.
  • Understanding the specific risks associated with different types of smoke exposure is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between environmental tobacco smoke (passive exposure), maternal smoking during pregnancy (gestational exposure), or both, and the risk of otitis media in children.
  • To differentiate the risks posed by different exposure pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a national cross-sectional health survey (1988-1994).
  • Inclusion of children younger than 12 years (N = 11,728).
  • Utilized questionnaire data and serum cotinine measurements to assess smoke exposure and occurrence/recurrence of ear infections.

Main Results:

  • Cumulative incidence of ear infections was 69%.
  • Passive smoke exposure showed no increased risk for any ear infection (adjusted RR, 1.01).
  • Gestational (adjusted RR, 1.08) and combined (adjusted RR, 1.07) smoke exposures showed a slight increase in risk for any ear infection.
  • Combined smoke exposure significantly increased the risk of recurrent ear infections (adjusted RR, 1.44).

Conclusions:

  • Passive smoke exposure was not linked to an increased risk of ever developing an ear infection.
  • Gestational and combined smoke exposures had a marginal clinical significance for the occurrence of ear infections.
  • Combined smoke exposure demonstrated a clinically and statistically significant effect on the risk of recurrent ear infections.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Studying Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Pseudomonas Infection in Lung Epithelial Cells09:15

Studying Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Pseudomonas Infection in Lung Epithelial Cells

Published on: May 11, 2020

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Asthma-I: Introduction01:29

Asthma-I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...