Effects of Active and Passive Smoking on Ear Infections

• Published in: Current infectious disease reports Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 166 - 174
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Gonca, Caylan, Nilgun Demirli, Karacan, Can Demir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Current Science Inc 01.04.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ears & hearing; Head; Infections; Infectious Diseases; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neck Infections (I Brook; Passive smoking; Respiratory tract; Section Editor; Smoking; Upper Respiratory; Second-hand smoke exposure; Active smoking; Tobacco; Passive smoking; Otitis media; Smoke; Ear infections
• ISSN: 1523-3847; 1534-3146
• DOI: 10.1007/s11908-012-0239-7

Otitis media (OM) is one of the most frequent diseases in young children, causing to visit a physician, and also the most common indication for antibiotic prescription. The peak incidence and prevalence of OM is 6 to 18 months of age. In children, second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections, such as acute otitis media (AOM), pneumonia, and bronchitis. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the role of SHS exposure on infant health, a very high proportion of children still continue to be exposed. This important relationship between all kinds of smoking and poor health may not be appreciated universally. With this article, we aim to review tobacco smoke exposure and OM connection. How this exposure may cause OM especially in young children? What can be done to prevent and to reduce the harmfull effects of tobacco smoking?