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Second-hand smoke increased risk for meningococcal disease
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Second-hand smoke and fetal exposure to maternal smoking significantly increased the risk for invasive meningococcal disease, according to study findings published online.
Rachael L. Murray, PhD, of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, University of Nottingham, and colleagues performed a systematic review of 18 studies that all looked at the effects of passive smoking on the risk for invasive meningococcal disease in children.
The results showed that being exposed to second-hand smoke at home doubled the risk for invasive meningococcal disease. For children aged younger than age 5 years, this risk was even higher, and for children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy, the risk increased to three times that of children born into non-smoking households.
Murray and colleagues said their results showed that every year as many as an extra 630 cases of invasive meningococcal disease among U.K. children are directly attributable to second-hand smoke.
The researchers said they noted some study limitations, including that the findings “are limited to presentations of confirmed or clinically probable invasive meningococcal disease, as these are the outcomes directly relevant to estimating the effect of [second-hand smoke] on disease risk.”
Although they did not explore second-hand smoke and its effect on carriage, they said this may be an area of further research. The study and an accompanying editorial also highlight the importance of avoiding smoke exposure.
Disclosure:The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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