Tobacco Smoke Linked to Allergic Rhinitis in Infants

University of Cincinnati ^ | 05/17/06 | University of Cincinnati

[Moonman62]

CINCINNATI—University of Cincinnati (UC) epidemiologists say it’s environmental tobacco smoke—not the suspected visible mold—that drastically increases an infant’s risk for developing allergic rhinitis by age 1.

Commonly known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis occurs when a person’s immune system mistakenly reacts to allergens (aggravating particles) in the air. The body then releases substances to protect itself, causing the allergy sufferer to experience persistent sneezing and a runny, blocked nose.

This is the first study to show a relationship between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and allergic rhinitis in year-old infants, the UC team reports in the June issue of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and an early online edition May 17.

“Previous studies have addressed risk factors for allergic rhinitis, but they failed to examine multiple environmental exposures, and some yielded contradictory results,” says Jocelyn Biagini, lead author and an epidemiologist in UC’s environmental health department.

The study evaluated the effects of numerous indoor exposures to such things as environmental tobacco smoke, visible mold, pets, siblings and the day-care environment on 633 infants under age one.

“We found that infants who were exposed to 20 or more cigarettes a day were three times more likely to develop allergic rhinitis by their first birthday than those who were not exposed,” says Biagini.

These findings, she says, suggest that for the health of their children, it’s important for parents to eliminate tobacco smoke from their homes.

“An infant’s lungs and immune system are still developing in the first year of life,” says Grace LeMasters, PhD, coauthor and principal investigator of the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study (CCAAPS). “Environmental tobacco smoke puts harmful particulates in the air that—when inhaled regularly at such an early age—could lead to serious allergic conditions like asthma.”

CCAAPS, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, is a five-year study examining the effects of environmental particulates on childhood respiratory health and allergy development.

About 43 percent of children, says Dr. LeMasters, are exposed to home environmental tobacco smoke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 21 percent of all American adults smoke cigarettes. Of them, 12 percent report smoking 25 or more cigarettes daily.

While household mold, long thought to be a major cause, did not contribute to allergic rhinitis development, Biagini says, it did increase the infant’s risk for ear infections.

Infants exposed to a mold patch about the size of a shoebox were five times more likely to contract ear infections requiring antibiotics than those living in mold-free homes, she explains.

The UC study also suggests that infants with older siblings are less likely to have allergic rhinitis.

“Research has shown that exposure to certain infections early in life may decrease your risk for allergic diseases,” explains James Lockey, MD, professor of environmental health and pulmonary medicine. “We found a ‘sibling protective effect’ for allergic rhinitis—this may mean the more siblings infants have, the more infections they are exposed to. As a result, the infant’s body may be better equipped to fight off allergic diseases later in life.”

Collaborators in the study were David Bernstein, MD, Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD, Patrick Ryan, Linda Levin, PhD, Tiina Reponen, PhD, Jeff Burkle and Manuel Villareal, MD.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies, many of which are can be triggered by airborne environmental pollutants.

[Skooz]

.....there are different types of asthma. Some people have asthma that's triggered by allergens, while for others exercise or cold air can induce airway spasms.

Yep. We lived in North Dakota at the time and it was torture not being able to play football in the cold. Sometimes, I would take my chances and play anyway, and I always paid for it with an asthma attack. The doctors said my allergies are what triggered my asthma, so it looks like both factors were at play.

My asthma cleared up in my early 20s, thank goodness. I don't wish that on anyone. There is no feeling in the world like not being able to draw your next breath.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

My husband has asthma, too. He grew up in a no-smoking home. His Dad died at age 37 when DH was 13. His dad had that lung cancer you get from asbestos which he contracted while he was in the Navy removing asbestos from submarines because it wasn't good for us. Go figure.

Everyone can trade family stories on this stuff all day long. It makes no difference.

What does make a difference is the constant chipping away of our rights by the Nanny Staters and the Smoke Gnatzies based on bogus, manipulated data. Both of you had better not be fat, because they're coming for "the fatties" next. ;)

One's right to not smoke does not trump another's right to smoke when the product is legal and taxed. If it's so deadly, take it off the market as they did with asbestos. Create yet another Black Market for a product, because we all know how lucrative that is. ;)

But darn...the government has a hard time taxing the h3ll out of those Black Market products, so I guess that won't be happening any time soon, LOL! I mean, the War on Drugs has been such a stellar success. *Rolleyes*

[Moonman62]

Everyone can trade family stories on this stuff all day long. It makes no difference.

That's right, but it hasn't stopped you from doing it. So let's look at the scientific studies instead, and when they are tallied, it comes out against the tobacco activists.

Keep calling us nanny staters and Nazis. It's not helping your cause. If you are confident that your conclusions are factual you wouldn't have to do that.

[Ditter]

To date I have not seen any evidence that you are not allowed to smoke. I can drive my Tahoe 70 miles an hour, just not on my street where the speed limit is 30. I can strip naked and dance to the music of "Hair", just not at the mall. These restrictions in "the places you can smoke" have been coming on slowly now for quite a few years because the non smoking crowd has grown larger and the smoking crowd has grown smaller. All your weeping and gnashing of teeth is not going to change it.

[Ditter]

Very interesting article, thanks for posting it. The list of allergens that trigger the response could have gone on and on but they chose to make it a short list. My asthmatic brother is a veterinarian and is not allergic to dogs and cats but a client brought in their pet raccoon a few years ago and he had a major asthma attack while treating the raccoon. Now the raccoon is only allowed in the clinic on his days off.

[Just A Nobody]

So let's look at the scientific studies instead

ROTFLOL!

[EGPWS]

My daughter grew up in a house of two smokers and lots of smoking friends would come and visit. She never once had asthma or was EVER sickly like the kids of today.

Very suspicious, isn't it!

I was born with Asthma, bronchial phenomena, whooping cough, and spent the first 6 months of my life in an oxygen tent.

My parents didn't smoke.

By the fifth grade I was awarded two Presidential physical fitness awards and my ailments dissipated and never returned even after pleasuring myself with tobacco.

It kinda' tells me that perhaps people sadly enough can have issues but to place ALL issues on smoking is ludicrous.

Smoking can be considered bad by some on a personal basis, however as long as it's a legal commodity, it should be treated as a personal preference as many other commodities are.

[EGPWS]

I can drive my Tahoe 70 miles an hour, just not on my street where the speed limit is 30. I can strip naked and dance to the music of "Hair", just not at the mall. These restrictions in "the places you can smoke" have been coming on slowly now for quite a few years because the non smoking crowd has grown larger and the smoking crowd has grown smaller.

Stripping, speeding, and dancing aren't outrageously taxed.

[Ditter]

So......... it's all about the money. If the taxes were dropped you wouldn't be carping about the restrictions?

[EGPWS]

I never carp.

[Ditter]

Of course not! (:9}

[Mears]

I grew up in a non-smoking household and had severe asthma.

My 5 kids grew up with 2 smoking parents and no asthma or allergic rhinitis (whatever THAT is).

Go figure !

[383rr]

I see you changed your tagline. Good decision.

[DakotaRed]

All of these studies are a plot against you.

There is more truth in your comment than you realize.

Next question. Since somke gnatzies have been so ardent in ridding everywhere of the evil smokers second hand smoke, why aren't they as equally ardent in keeping dogs (Non seeing eye dogs) out of stores and opposing decriminalization of marijuana smoking?

[DakotaRed]

I grew up in a house of smokers, both my Mom and Dad. Nearly all of my aunts, uncles and parents friends smoked as well.

My Dad died of a massive heart attack at age 54 (I didn't mention he rarely had a sober day until about 8 years before his death.) My Mom died at 72 of a cerebrial aneurysm. Most all of my aunts and uncles that also smokes lived into their late 70s and mid 80s, none dying of lung cancer.

My non-smoking grandmother who was exposed to a lot of second hand smoke her entire life and who lived with us when growing up lived to 92.

I'm 57, smoke cigars, rarely drink and am in better health than either of my two non-smoking sisters, one 59 the other 55.

I may quit smoking one day, but it will be because I choose to, not bcause some nanny state smoke gnatzie who thinks they can live my life better than me decides what I should do. Besides, after surviving 2 tours in Viet Nam I feel entitled to enjoy legal products than I choose to, if I wish.

[DakotaRed]

Most of the rest of us believe otherwise. You're side is losing and that's the way it should be :)

Will you be as glib when the nanny staters decide your soft drink, iced tea, coffee, choice of car, choice of home location or construction or whatever else "your side believes otherwise" starts banning what you may enjoy?

I keep telling smoke gnatzies and they refuse to open their eyes. Smoking is only the smoke screen to get their foot in the door to remove even more of our choices and gain control over people as elitist once had a few centuries ago.

Open your eyes and take a look at what else is being reported in the news as "hazardous" to childrens health and then remember what was being said about smoking a few years ago.