Smoking While Pregnant Ups Ear Infection Risk

Mothers who smoke while they are pregnant could be increasing the risk of their children suffering from ear infections, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine, Missouri.

Researchers studied 11,000 children up to the age of 12, looking for links between development of ear infections and exposure to second-hand smoke before and after birth. The risk of developing chronic ear infections was 44% higher for children whose mother's smoked during and after pregnancy.

Most children suffer from ear infections at some stage in their development. However, some children suffer from recurrent, or 'chronic' conditions such as Glue Ear. Smoking is known to increase the risk of children developing ear infections and some studies suggest smoking while pregnant may lower the child's immune system.

Edith Maskell of Bromley Health Management commented, "There is a lot of evidence to suggest chronic ear infections can have a long term effect on childhood development".

"Smoking certainly lowers your own immune system - that's why smokers tend to suffer from colds quite regularly. If you smoke while you are pregnant, you're jeopardising your child's early and long-term development. The unborn child has no say in the matter".

Tuesday, 12 March 2002