Limited data from Turkey indicate that smoking presents a major threat
to Turkish children. Parental, particularly maternal, smoking results
in an increase in spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, congenital
abnormalities, neonatal death and decreased physical and mental develo
pment in the Infant, which can persist into adult life. Parental smoki
ng results in increased rates of respiratory and middle ear illness in
children, more so in infants and in older children more school absenc
es. Naturally both of the effects are even greater if the children sta
rt to smoke themselves. Smoking parents are more likely to have smokin
g children, so that the cycle of illness repeats in future generations
. Doctors have a major responsibility to save both present and future
generations from this disaster. In this article appropriate action is
outlined.