Smoking around asthmatic children is unwise

If common sense were to prevail, no person would ever smoke in front of kids -- especially kids with asthma.  Yet we all know it happens.

Just the other day I was paged to do a breathing treatment on a six-year-old boy with asthma.  I couldn't help but notice that both parents reeked of cigarette smoke. 

As a respiratory therapist, few things frustrate me more than this, perhaps because I was a child asthmatic who, on occasion, had to sit in smoke filled rooms (I wrote about this experience here).

I knew a doctor once who would call the police when he learned a parent was smoking in front of a child with a chronic lung disease.  He would say, "This is child abuse."

My job as an RT is to educate these parents not just on the dangers of smoking, but that second-hand smoke can trigger an asthma attack, and make an ongoing attack worse.

Cigarette smoke also further damages not just the smoker's lungs, but the lungs of nonsmokers who are forced to breath in second hand smoke -- like kids.  

Some parents heed my advice and stop smoking, at least stop smoking in front of kids.  However, a few choose to ignore the wisdom I present.  One dad completely denied second-hand smoke was dangerous.

Now, however, thanks to a new study conducted at the University of Alabama (and discussed here), we have proof a link between tobacco smoke and asthma morbidity exists.

The study consisted of 290 children with persistent asthma, 28% of whom were exposed to smoke in the house, and 19% who were exposed to smoke outside the house. All the children were educated on the dangers of second hand smoke, and were educated about avoiding their asthma triggers -- especially second hand smoke.

Of the children whose exposure to second hand smoke decreased, "fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits were reported in the 12 months prior to the second interview compared to the 12 months prior to the first interview. Additionally, these children were 48% less likely to experience an episode of poor asthma control."

While this is a new study, this is not new wisdom.  In fatal asthma, a book published in 1998, the authors write:  

"Surveys have shown 53-76% of children's homes have one or more smokers, and an estimated 8.7 million children in the U.S. under age 5 are exposed to cigarette smoke at home. Asthmatic children whose parents smoke may have more asthma symptoms and more frequent exacerbation's requiring emergency department management."

I have no problem with people smoking.  I think it's fine if a grown adult chooses to put arsenic, acetic acid, acetone, ammonia, benzene, butane, carbon monozide, ethanol, formaldehyde, hydrazine, hexamine, hydrogen cyanide, lead, methane, mathanol, napthalene, nickel, nicotine, phenol, polonium, stearic acid, styrene, tar and toluene and 3,580 other substances into his body (which are the contents of one cigarette). But, a child doesn't get to choose.  He is forced to breath whatever air is provided for him.