Cross-sectional study about impact of parental smoking on rhinitis symptoms in children

ObjectiveAssess the prevalence of rhinitis and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) of children in our community and its relationship with symptoms of rhinitis Methods (design, setting, participants, main outcome measures)Cross-sectional study using questionnaire on rhinitis of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, in children (6-7years) and adolescents (13-14years). Categories: rhinitis ever, recent rhinitis, recent rhinoconjunctivitis, severe rhinoconjunctivitis. Parental smoking: (i) neither parent smokes; (ii) only the mother smokes; (iii) only the father smokes; and (iv) both parents smoke. Odds ratio of the prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis according to ETS exposure was calculated using logistic regression. Results10690 children and 10730 adolescents. The prevalence of rhinitis ever in children: 29.4%, recent rhinitis 24%, recent rhinoconjunctivitis 11.5% and severe rhinoconjunctivitis 0.1%. In adolescents: 46.2%, 34.5%, 16.2% and 0.2%, respectively. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in the home occurred in 51% of cases. Parental smoking was associated with a higher prevalence of forms of rhinitis in adolescents when only the mother was a smoker. In children when both parents were smokers. ConclusionRhinitis is highly prevalent in our community. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure is still very common. The relationship between ETS and rhinitis symptoms in children of this community is not as robust as that found for asthma.