HEALTH-EFFECTS OF PASSIVE SMOKING IN ADOLESCENT CHILDREN

Objective and design. To study the effects of passive smoking on healt h in adolescent schoolchildren by questionnaire, spirometry and labora tory investigations. Setting. Two schools in the Vanderbijilpark area. Participants. Seven hundred and twenty-six high-school children of av erage age 16 years. Outcome measures. Lung function, serological abnor mality or historical (i.e. questionnaire) evidence of ill health. Resu lts. The prevalence of respiratory illness before and after 2 years, r espiratory symptoms, earache over the past year, low birth weight and learning difficulties were found to be significantly increased in the children exposed to parental smoke in the home, especially those expos ed to maternal smoking. Spirometric and laboratory parameters, however , were not affected by passive smoking. Conclusion. This study highlig hts the harmful health effects of passive smoking in the home.