FED: Smokers kids have more ear infections study

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-1999
FED: Smokers kids have more ear infections study

Research shows a pregnant woman who smokes more than 20 cigarettes a day trebles the risk
of her child needing ear surgery.

The study of more than 5,500 Brisbane children shows that even light smoking in pregnancy
increases the risk of children developing middle ear infections.

Brisbane paediatricians STEPHEN STATHIS and MICHAEL O'CALLAGHAN say their study provides
yet another reason why women should be encouraged to avoid smoking during pregnancy.

More than 8,500 women attending their first antenatal session at Brisbane's Mater
Children's Hospital were enrolled in the study.

More than 5,500 children were followed through to the age of five years.

The study's one of a few to calculate the proportion of ear disease attributable to tobacco
exposure at different times in pregnancy compared to exposure to passive smoking in childhood.

AAP RTV rr/am/jn

KEYWORD: SMOKING (BRISBANE)

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