Studies have shown that 50 to 80 percent of children
with asthma develop symptoms before their fifth
birthday. Asthma in childhood is frequently underdiagnosed.
Most common cause of asthma symptoms is viral
respiratory infection in children five years of
age and younger. The factors associated with continuing
asthma in children are allergy, family history
of allergy/asthma, and exposure to smoke and inhaled
allergens around the time of birth.
Several studies have found specifically that
the risk of asthma appears to increase among children
who have one or more parent who smokes. Exposing
children to tobacco smoke has been shown to increase
respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sputum, and
wheeze, and increase the risk for developing asthma
and experiencing asthma attacks. Children between
ages two and four who are living with a smoker
are 280 percent more likely to wheeze than children
from nonsmoking families.
As well, tobacco smoke has also been linked
to increases in the number and severity of virtually
all respiratory disorders, including allergic
rhinitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and infections
of the ear, upper respiratory tract, and nose.
Since children are very susceptible to respiratory
infections, their exposure to second-hand tobacco
smoke is of even greater concern.
