Do household tobacco smoking habits influence asthma, rhinitis and eczema among 13-14 year-old adolescents?

Background: Although the harmful impact of environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory health in early childhood is well known, its effect in adolescence is still ambiguous. This study aims to examine if parents' and household tobacco smoking habits influence asthma, rhinitis and eczema in early adolescence in The Republic of Macedonia, as a country with a very high rate of household tobacco smoke exposure despite the smoking cessation campaign, and low prevalence rates of asthma, rhinitis and eczema.

Methods: Children aged 13-14 years (n=3026) from randomly selected schools in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, completed by themselves the standardised International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three written questionnaires on asthma, rhinitis, eczema and potential environmental risk factors.

Acetaminophen intake and risk of asthma, hay fever and eczema in early adolescence.

A positive association between acetaminophen intake and allergic diseases has recently been reported in developed countries with impaired oxidant/antioxidant balance and promotion of atopy as proposed underlying mechanisms. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between acetaminophen intake and asthma, hay fever, and eczema in The Republic of Macedonia as a country with acetaminophen intake not physician-controlled, high passive smoke exposure and dietary antioxidant intake, and moderately low prevalence of allergic diseases. Self-reported data obtained through the standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Three written questionnaires of 3026 adolescents aged 13/14 years from randomly selected schools in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, were used.