Effect of passive smoking on lung function and respiratory infection.

Objective: To study the effect of environmental tobacco smoke to children's health and more specifically to the development of respiratory tract infections and also its influence to their respiratory function.

Methods: We studied 586 children from the district of west Thrace in Greece aged 5-14 years, randomly selected from 20 primary and 10 secondary schools in regards their exposure to tobacco smoke, and its possible relation with respiratory tract infections. We assessed respiratory function by spirometry.

Asthma, lung function and sensitization in school children with a history of bronchiolitis.

Background: The purpose of the present retrospective study was to investigate the association of school-age asthma with acute-bronchiolitis and examine the influence of potential risk factors.

Methods: One hundred and eighty-nine children aged 7.5 +/- 2.