Mechanisms proposed for respiratory effects of passive smoking
| Effect | Disease outcomes affected | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute | Sensory stimulation | Acute eye/nose irritation | ||
| Bronchospasm | ||||
| Mucosal oedema | Middle ear effusion | |||
| (Allergic sensitisation) | ||||
| Decreased mucociliary clearance | Middle ear effusion | |||
| Chronic cough and phlegm | ||||
| Lower respiratory infection (leading to other outcomes) | ||||
| Goblet cell hypertrophy or hypersecretion | Chronic cough and phlegm Nasal discharge | |||
| Adenoidal hyperplasia | Middle ear effusion | |||
| Adenotonsillectomy | ||||
| Increased risk/severity of respiratory infection (mechanism uncertain) | Early LRTI Exacerbations of asthma Middle ear effusion | |||
| Bronchial inflammation | Bronchial hyperreactivity | |||
| Spirometric indices | ||||
| Postnatal lung development | Spirometric indices | |||
| Early LRTI (?esp wheezing) | ||||
| ?Bronchial hyperreactivity | ||||
| Chronic | Prenatal growth5-150 | Spirometric indices |
LRTI = lower respiratory tract infection.
↵5-150 Due to in utero exposure to maternal smoking.