A recent Canadian study published in Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine of American Medical Association, reported that children exposed to passive smoke in their families have twice as high the incidence and recurrence rate of otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear) as children with no smoking family members. Researchers suggested parents not to expose children to environments with passive smoke.

In this research by the University of Calgary, Canada, 625 first-grade children were surveyed and one-fourth of them were found to have a history of otitis media. The history of persistent or recurrent otitis media was 85% more prevalent among children who had two or more smoking family members during their first three years of life than those who did not have smoking people in their homes. Mothers who smoked more than ten cigarettes a day increased the incidence of otitis media in their children by 68%. According to Dr. Adair-Bischoff, cigarette smoke irritates the vulnerable cellular structures in the ear and predisposes them to bacterial infections.

 

It is estimated that 38 to 60% of children have passive smoke exposure in their homes. Adair said that new regulations, which preclude smoking in public places, may exacerbate smoking in the homes.