Parental smoking and asthma in childhood

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 12, 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

M Palmieri1, G Longobardi, G Napolitano

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Naples, Italy.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|July 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Parental smoking is a significant risk factor for childhood asthma, particularly in children under six who test negative for common allergens. This finding highlights the importance of smoke-free environments for young children

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Health
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Childhood asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition.
  • Parental smoking is a known environmental exposure linked to respiratory issues in children.
  • The specific impact of parental smoking on asthma phenotypes, especially in relation to allergen sensitization, requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between parental smoking and childhood asthma.
  • To identify if parental smoking is a risk factor for asthma in children who do not show allergic sensitization via prick tests.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 302 asthmatic and 433 healthy children aged 1-12 years.
  • Asthmatic patients underwent prick tests for common allergens.
  • Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to assess interactions between parental smoking and other variables.

Main Results:

  • A significantly higher prevalence of heavy parental smokers was observed among asthmatic children under 6 years of age with negative prick tests (P = 0.02).
  • Logistic regression analysis confirmed parental smoking as a significant factor in this subgroup.

Conclusions:

  • Parental smoking is identified as an important risk factor for childhood asthma, specifically in children aged 6 years or less who are "prick test negative".
  • This suggests that non-allergic asthma in young children may be particularly susceptible to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

More Related Videos

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure08:17

Generation of a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model in Mice by Repeated Ozone Exposure

Published on: August 25, 2017

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System06:07

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System

Published on: October 22, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
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...
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification01:26

Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition marked by inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airways. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among inflammatory pathways, immune responses, and neural mechanisms.
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Asthma I: Introduction01:28

Asthma I: Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction and heightened bronchial responsiveness to a wide range of triggers. The underlying inflammation leads to airway swelling, mucus hypersecretion, and smooth muscle constriction, all of which narrow the airway lumen and impede airflow. Clinically, asthma presents with recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, symptoms that typically vary in intensity and...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction01:23

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...
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...