Second Hand Smoke Increases Hospital Admissions for All Types of Infectious Diseases

Research finds that children exposed to second hand tobacco smoke are more likely to get severe infectious diseases and have to be admitted to hospital.

Research, that was just published online, has found that children who are exposed to second hand tobacco smoke are more likely to get severe infectious diseases and have to be admitted to hospital. The children are at greater risk of developing a whole range of infectious illnesses, such as meningococcal disease, and not just respiratory illness. Exposure to smoke in the first few months of life did the most harm, especially if they had a low birth weight or had been born prematurely. The relationship between second hand smoke exposure and first admission to hospital for any infectious illness was assessed for 7,402 children who were born in Hong Kong in April and May 1997. The children were followed until they were eight. Children who lived in the household of someone who smoked within three metres of them during their first few months of life were the most at risk of being admitted to hospital with one in three admitted by the age of 12 months. The earlier the exposure to smoke the more profound the effect with exposure to second hand smoke during the first six months of life increasing the likelihood of being admitted to hospital for an infectious disease during the eight years by almost 45 per cent. Children who were born with a low birth weight were 75 per cent more likely to be admitted to hospital with an infectious disease during the eight years and those who were premature being twice as likely. “An excess risk of severe morbidity from both respiratory and other infections for all infants exposed to second hand smoke suggests that such exposure, as well as acting via direct contact with the respiratory tract, may also affect the immune system,” the authors say. Premature infants and those with a low birth rate might be more at risk because their respiratory and immune systems were less well developed. Full paper available here.