PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL EXPOSURE TO TOBACCO SMOKE AS A RISK OF BRONCHIOLITIS DURING INFANCY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46793/PP250206011BKeywords:
infant, bronchiolitis, tobacco smoke, pregnancy, risk factorAbstract
Introduction: Acute bronchiolitis is the most common disease of the lower respiratory tract in children in the first year of life and a frequent reason for hospitalization of small children in the winter period. In 75% of cases it is caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A more severe clinical course of acute bronchiolitis is expected in younger children, children born before term and infants with associated diseases. Exposure to tobacco smoke is a global health problem and is considered a risk factor for the health of pregnant women and children, especially respiratory morbidity during the first year of life. They were made significant studies worldwide on the effect of prenatal, through passive and active maternal smoking, on the development of severe bronchiolitis in early childhood.
Aim: To determine whether there is a connection between maternal exposure to tobacco smoke, prenatally and postnatally, and the development of bronchiolitis in children under the age of one year in the territory of the municipality of Doljevac.
Material and methods: The examined group consisted of 80 children, 36 boys and 44 girls, aged up to 1 year, average age 8.2 months, diagnosed with bronchiolitis in the period from October 2024 to January 2025. A questionnaire was filled in by the mothers, the data was collected and statistically processed in order to determine the correlation of the obtained results.
Results: Out of the total number of examined children with bronchiolitis aged up to one year, it was determined that in 48 (60%) children with bronchiolitis, the mothers continued to consume tobacco during pregnancy, while 32 (40%) of them did not. In 65 (81.25%) children with bronchiolitis, passive exposure to tobacco smoke of the mother during pregnancy by household members was found, while in 15 (18.75%) there was no connection.
Conclusion: Our results confirm the harmful effects of passive and active cigarette smoking during pregnancy for the respiratory health of newborns and infants, as exposure to tobacco smoke in the prenatal period significantly increases the risk of developing bronchiolitis in the first year of life. Strategies to prevent passive smoke exposure in young children and pregnant women is an urgent public and children's health priority.
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