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Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and sensitisation in children

E Lannerö1, M Wickman, M van Hage

  • 1Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. eva.lannero@ki.se

Thorax
|December 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Early infancy exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) significantly increases the risk of IgE sensitization to common indoor inhalant and food allergens in children. Maternal smoking during pregnancy did not show a clear association.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is linked to childhood respiratory issues, but its effect on IgE sensitization remains unclear.
  • Understanding the impact of prenatal and postnatal smoke exposure on allergic sensitization is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between prenatal and/or postnatal environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and the risk of immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitization in children at four years of age.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective birth cohort study (BAMSE) involving 4089 families.
  • Questionnaires collected data on environmental factors and allergic symptoms at multiple time points (2 months, 1, 2, and 4 years).
  • Analysis of IgE antibodies to common allergens in blood samples from 2614 children at age 4, using logistic regression for risk assessment.

Main Results:

  • No significant association found between maternal smoking during pregnancy and IgE sensitization.
  • A dose-response relationship observed between early infancy exposure to ETS and increased risk of IgE sensitization.
  • Elevated risk for sensitization to indoor inhalant allergens (e.g., cat) and food allergens in infants exposed to ETS.

Conclusions:

  • Early infancy exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a significant risk factor for developing IgE sensitization.
  • The sensitizing effect of ETS is particularly noted for indoor inhalant and food allergens, especially in infants whose parents do not have allergies.
Abstract

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