Environmental tobacco smoke and its effect on the symptoms and medication in children with asthma

Abstract

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) worsens asthmatic symptoms. We analyzed the relationship between levels of ETS and asthmatic symptoms and medication. We asked parents of 282 asthmatic children about the general condition, smoke exposure and medication. Patients were classified into three groups: no-ETS (no smoking), mild-ETS (smoking in the house but not in the same room as patient), and heavy-ETS (smoking in the same room as patient). We classified 116 children in no-ETS group, 124 children in mild-ETS group and 42 children in heavy-ETS group. The symptoms were worst and prevalence of leukotriene receptor antagonist and long-acting β₂-agonist use were highest in heavy-ETS group. However, there was no statistical difference between no-ETS and mild-ETS groups in prevalence of anti-asthmatic drug use and symptoms. We conclude that a smoking ban in rooms used by asthmatic children is an easy way to reduce ETS, asthmatic symptoms and the use of anti-asthmatic drugs.

Keywords:

• questionnaire
• respiratory
• exposure

Acknowledgements

We thank our subjects for their enthusiastic participation. We also thank The San-in Asthma Research Group members. None of the authors have any conflict of interest with the research reported in this manuscript. The members of the San-in Asthma Research Group are as follows: Dr Akira Yamasaki, Dr Yasushi Hasegawa, Dr Masanari Watanabe, Dr Ryota Okazaki, Dr Naoto Burioka Dr Tadashi Igishi and Prof. Eiji Shimizu at Multidisciplinary Internal Medicine, Tottori University; Dr Takeshi Isobe and Prof. Toshikazu Takabatake at Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University: Dr Kenta Horimukai and Dr Keiichi Hanaki, at Department of Pediatrics, Tottori University; Dr Takeshi Taketani, Dr Takeshi Kasai and Dr Hitoshi Sejima at Department of Pediatrics, Shimane University; Dr Kazuhiro Kato and Dr Kouji Fukutani at Department of Respiratory Medicine, San-in Rosai Hospital; Dr Yuji Sugimoto at Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori Prefecture Central Hospital; Dr Masahiro Kodani at Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori Red Cross Hospital; Dr Tatsuya Konishi at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Matsue City Hospital; Dr Yuji Kawasaki and Dr Hirokazu Tokuyasu at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Matsue Red Cross Hospital; Dr Toshikazu Ikeda at Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Organization Matsue Hospital; Dr Katsuyuki Tomita and Dr Hiroki Yajima at Department of Internal Medicine, Hakuai Hospital; Dr Masato Hirao at Department of Pediatrics, Tottori Red Cross Hospital; Dr Hiroshi Hayashibara at Department of Pediatrics, National Organization Yonago Medical Center; Dr Yasuhiro Fujii at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saiseikai Sakaiminato General Hospital; Dr Tohru Hikita at Department of Allergy, Fujii Masao Memorial Hospital; Dr Daisuke Hori at Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Hamada Medical Center; Dr Satoru Katayama at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yoka Public Hospital: Dr Koichi Asai at Department of Pediatrics, Shimane Prefecture Hospital; Dr Yumi Negi and Yuuichi Mushimoto at Department of Pediatrics, Unnan General Hospital; Dr Takehisa Fujiwaki at Department of Pediatrics, Oochi General Hospital; Dr Masaru Tasaka at Department of Pediatrics, Tsuwano Kyozon Hospital; Dr Susumu Katsube at Katsube Clinic; Dr Yoshihide Nakamura at Nakamura Internal Medicine and Respiratory Clinic; Dr Hajime Horie at Horie Respiration Clinic; Dr Yuji Matsumoto at Matsumoto Clinic; Dr Takashi Matsuda at Matsuda Pediatric Clinic; Dr Masaaki Honda at Honda Clinic; Dr Sotarou Nogami at Nogami Clinic; Dr Kinya Motoda at Tottori Municipal Hospital, Dr Masato Horiuchi at Horiuchi Clinic; Dr Yuukou Yamane at Yamane Clinic; Dr Masaaki Mikami at Hosshouji Internal Clinic; Dr Tomoaki Koshoubu at Department of Internal Medicine, National Organization Yonago Medical Center; Dr Takashi Yanagawa at Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Hamada Medical Center; Dr Kazuya Hirakawa at Shimane Prefecuture Preventive Medical Center; Dr Yoshimaro Yamamoto at Department of Internal Medicine, Tottori Prefecture Kousei Hospital; Dr Hiroyuki Yamamoto at Department of Internal Medicine, Saihaku Hosipital; Dr Naoto Kohno at Nichihara Kyozon Hospital; Dr Sumiko Takigawa at Sumire Pediatric Clinic; Noruki Haneda at Mototsune Pediatric Clinic; Dr Hiroshi Watanabe at Watanabe Pediatric and Ladies Clinic; Dr Isonori Senoh at Senoh Clinic; Dr Takaharu Ohie at Oda Municipal Hospital; Dr Yuichi Tagusa at Poyopoyo Clinic; Dr Yasuhisa Kajino at Department of Pediatrics, Masuda Red Cross Hospital; Dr Tadataka Hoshika at Department of Pediatrics, Tottori Prefecture Central Hospital; Dr Nobuo Ishitani at Ishitani Pediatric Clinic; Dr Teruo Okasora at Okasora Pediatric Clinic, Dr Junji Takagi at Department of Pediatrics, Gotsu Saiseikai General Hospital; Dr Seiko Yamane at Department of Pediatrics, Matsue Memorial Hospital; Dr Yasuo Nishino at Nishino Pediatric Clinic; Dr Hirohumi Urashima at Urashima Clinic.