Ireland: Children Exposed to Smoking at Risk of Ear Infections

Source from:  Irish Independent (ie)  07/02/2014

Many people still underestimate the effects of second-hand smoke on the health of children – despite Ireland being the first country in Europe to ban smoking in public places a decade ago – according to new research.

Researchers asked if second-hand smoke leads to an increased risk of asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, diabetes, and ear infections in children. They found there has been a significant increase in the general population's risk perception of second-hand smoke for asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and bronchitis since the late 1990s.

However, when it comes putting children in danger of ear infection due to exposure, not even half the general population knew of the risk.

The study, led by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health in UCC, and researchers at the National Cancer Registry, was published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

"In Ireland, the risks posed by second-hand smoke expossure have received substantial attention, with changes in health warnings on cigarette packs and the introduction of the nationwide smoke-free workplace legislation.

"It is likely that the extensive media coverage and public discussion about harmful effects of smoking has contributed to an increased risk perception of second-hand smoke among the Irish population," the authors said.

"First, we examined changes in risk perception of second-hand smoke in the Irish general population and compared risk perceptions of Irish GPs to the general population.

"General practitioners play a crucial part as role models for health behaviours, communicators of health messages, and have an important role in smoking cessation advice delivery.

"The starkest contrast was seen with 81.5pc of GPs compared with only 46pc of the general population reporting the risk perception of exposure to increases in a child's risk of ear infections.

Middle ear infections are caused when a bacteria or virus enters the ear canal through a tube in the nose, known as the eustachian tube.

This usually happens when the child already has a cold or virus, causing a thickening of mucus, which encourages the growth of bacteria. Once the bacteria travels to the middle ear canal, growth continues as an ear infection. It can be a few days before the typical symptoms; fever, earache, draining of fluid from the ear are seen.

Cigarette smoke can irritate the nasal passage and in response, the nose builds up a defence with mucus.

This carries the bacteria or virus into the child's middle ear canal.

Cigarette smoke affects a child's risk of getting ear infections by suppressing their immune system, making if more difficult to fight infection.

While serious complications of middle ear infections are much rarer now than they were in the past, very young children are still at risk of developing complications because their immune systems are still developing.

These include hearing loss,weakness in half the face,dizziness and tinnitus – hearing sounds from inside their body rather than from an outside source.

If a child has frequent ear infections that affect their hearing while they are very young, there is a risk their speech and language development may also be affected. Enditem