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Association between secondhand marijuana smoke and respiratory infections in children

Adam B Johnson1, George S Wang2, Karen Wilson2,3

  • 1Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA. adajohns@wakehealth.edu.

Pediatric Research
|July 29, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Secondhand marijuana smoke exposure in children is linked to an increased incidence of viral respiratory infections (VRIs). This study found no significant association with emergency department visits or other specific illnesses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Environmental Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Limited data exists on the health impacts of secondhand marijuana smoke on children.
  • Caregiver marijuana use prevalence and its association with child health outcomes are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of caregiver marijuana use.
  • To evaluate the association between secondhand marijuana smoke exposure and childhood emergency department/urgent care visits.
  • To assess the link between secondhand marijuana smoke and otitis media, viral respiratory infections (VRIs), and asthma exacerbations.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional survey of 1500 caregivers presenting to a pediatric emergency department.
  • Inclusion criteria: caregivers aged 21-85, English/Spanish speaking.
  • Exclusion criteria: critically ill children, medically complex, over 11 years old, or using medical marijuana.

Main Results:

  • 10.5% of caregivers reported marijuana use; 19.6% reported tobacco use.
  • Children exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke had a higher rate of VRIs (1.31 episodes/year) compared to unexposed children (1.04 episodes/year).
  • No significant differences were found in emergency department/urgent care visits, otitis media, or asthma exacerbations.

Conclusions:

  • Caregiver marijuana use is prevalent, with approximately 10% of caregivers being regular users.
  • Secondhand marijuana smoke exposure is associated with an increased incidence of viral respiratory infections in children.
  • No association was found between secondhand marijuana smoke exposure and emergency department/urgent care visits, otitis media, or asthma exacerbations in children.
Abstract

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