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

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Relationships between cotinine, lower respiratory tract infection, and eosinophil cationic protein in children

Pembe Keskinoglu1, Dilek Cimrin, Gazanfer Aksakoglu

  • 1School of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Dokuz Eylül University, 35340, Inciralti/Izmir, Turkey. pembekeskin@yahoo.com

European Journal of Pediatrics
|September 16, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Passive smoking significantly increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children. Exposure to secondhand smoke is linked to higher urine eosinophil cationic protein (u-ECP) levels, indicating airway inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Passive smoking is a significant environmental exposure in children.
  • Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are a common pediatric health concern.
  • Airway inflammation is a key feature of respiratory illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between passive smoking and urine eosinophil cationic protein (u-ECP) levels in children with LRTI.
  • To determine if passive smoking contributes to airway inflammation in pediatric LRTI cases.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 150 children with LRTI and 150 healthy controls.
  • Measurement of urine cotinine (biomarker for passive smoking) and u-ECP levels.
  • Statistical analysis using t-test, McNemar chi-square test, and Pearson correlation.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of passive smoking was observed in both children with LRTI and healthy controls.
  • Passive smoking was associated with a 4.7-fold increased prevalence of LRTI (p=0.000).
  • Children with LRTI exhibited significantly higher mean u-ECP levels (p=0.018) and a positive correlation between u-cotinine and u-ECP.

Conclusions:

  • Passive smoking plays a crucial role in the development of respiratory infections in children.
  • Secondhand smoke exposure contributes to airway inflammation in children with LRTI.
  • u-ECP serves as a potential biomarker for assessing passive smoking-induced airway inflammation in pediatric LRTI.
Abstract

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