Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 in Children and the Effect of Household Tobacco Smoke Exposure on COVID-19

Özet

Objective: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is associated with many diseases,including lower respiratory tract infections, in pediatric age groups. In this study, we aimedto assess the effect of household ETS exposure on symptom frequency and clinical severity inchildren and adolescents with COVID-19.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included pediatric cases (<18 years old)with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, who were admitted to our hospital between 20.03.2020 and01.05.2020. Patients with respiratory diseases and active smokers were excluded. Demographiccharacteristics, symptoms, and clinical severity of COVID-19 were obtained from parents andchildren using a questionnaire and from patients’ files. Household ETS exposure was assessedby questionnaire.Results: A total of 167 patients (median age 145 months, 50.7 % male) were included in thestudy. The frequency of household ETS exposure was 50.9%, and the frequency of cough wassignificantly higher in exposed children than non-exposed children (71.4% vs 50.8% respectively,p=0.02). The frequency of both fever and cough was significantly higher ETS-exposed in thesubgroup of cases with a mild clinical course (69.5% vs 48.1% respectively, p= 0.02 for feverand 67.8% vs 44.4% respectively, p=0.01 for cough). There was no relationship between clinicalseverity and household ETS exposure.Conclusion: Household ETS exposure may impact COVID-19 pediatric cases as demonstratedby the increased frequency of cough and fever in ETS-exposed children. As new lockdownmeasures are implemented, increasing public awareness about the effect of household ETSexposure on COVID-19as well as encouraging a decrease in ETS exposure are essential.