http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/parenting.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-childhood-leukaemia-fathers.html http://tobacco.org/news/333531.html Research from Western Australia's Telethon Institute for Child Health Research finds that heavy smoking by fathers around the time of conception greatly increases the risk of the child developing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. Published in the prestigious American Journal of Epidemiology, the study investigated the association between parental smoking and the occurrence of ALL in offspring. "The first step towards the development of leukemia is thought to occur in utero in a lot of cases," lead author Dr Elizabeth Milne says. "So we look at prenatal exposures as it has to be something to do with what's happening before the baby's born." "Tobacco is a known carcinogen and, in terms of childhood leukemia, there's a plausible biological pathway whereby paternal smoking could actually contribute to disease risk in the offspring," she says. In a comprehensive exposure questionnaire distributed nationwide to 388 families with cases of ALL and 868 control families, the group asked mothers and fathers to state where they lived, their occupation and how many cigarettes they smoked for every year of their life from the time they were 15. Medical Xpress Australia Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=661482 http://tobacco.org/news/333451.html Children who move frequently may be at greater risk for worse health and psychological distress later on in life, according to a new study. Researchers also found kids who changed homes frequently were more likely to drink heavily and smoke as teens and adults. In the study, researchers followed 850 people in Scotland aged 15, 35 and 55 over 20 years. HealthDay [HealthScout] UK-Scotland Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=661463 http://tobacco.org/news/333356.html Although fewer kids are being exposed to smoking while riding in cars, more than 20 percent of nonsmoking teens still are, U.S. health officials report. Secondhand smoke can be particularly intense in a closed space, such as inside a car, and poses a significant health risk, the researchers noted. "There have been marked decreases in exposure to smoking in cars," said report author Brian King, an epidemic intelligence service officer in the Office on Smoking and Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "That decrease occurred whether they were nonsmokers or smokers," he noted. "But what is alarming is that, despite that decrease, we are still seeing large levels of exposure, particularly among nonsmokers," King said. "One in five nonsmokers is still exposed to secondhand smoke in that environment." HealthDay [HealthScout] Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.forestonline.org/news/headlines/parents-invited-to-pledge-to-make-their-cars-smoke-free-for-kids/ http://tobacco.org/news/333247.html The British Lung Foundation has launched an online pledge to encourage adults to commit to keeping their cars smoke-free when children are passengers. Any adult, whether they are a smoker, ex-smoker or non smoker can make the pledge by visiting the BLF website and entering their details. Clare Cox, Director of Communications at the British Lung Foundation, said: "Children have sent a strong message to their parents that they no longer want to endure a smoky car ride. Parents can listen to their children's concerns and take this pledge to protect young lungs from the damage caused by cigarette fumes in the car." FOREST UK Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/40 http://tobacco.org/news/332822.html Methods In this cross-sectional school-based study, data on household SHS exposure, avoidance of SHS and related variables was obtained from the 2008 and 2009 Control of School-aged Children Smoking Study Survey. A random sample of 52 elementary schools was included. A total of 4450 3-6 graders (aged 8-13) completed the questionnaire. Regression models analyzed factors of children's self-confidence to avoid household SHS exposure. Results Over 50% of children were found to have lived with a family member who smoked in front of them after the new law enacted, and 35% of them were exposed to household SHS more than 4 days a week. . . . Conclusions The intervention program should enhance school children do actively avoid exposure to SHS in home settings, and more importantly, provide tobacco hazard knowledge to male students to avoid exposure to household SHS for themselves. The results also provide further evidence that Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act should perhaps be extended to the family environment in order to protect children from the hazards of household SHS exposure. BioMed Central Taiwan Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://galvestondailynews.com/story/287806 http://tobacco.org/news/332536.html Here is more information on ear infections and smoking in children's living space. Ear infections are common in children. They include acute otitis media, which is an infection in the middle ear space associated with pain and fever. There are an estimated 5 million ear infections each year in the United States. There also is otitis media with effusion. Children with otitis media with effusion have extra fluid in the middle ear. Symptoms might include feeling like the ear is plugged or difficulty hearing. Even if these infections are common, they can have consequences. Sometimes they require surgery and they might make the children at risk for hearing loss and delayed speech development. A recent review in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine showed having a family member who smoked raised the risk of ear infections in the children who shared their living space. Galveston Daily News Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/At-least-one-family-member-consumes-tobacco-liquor-in-10-dists-Survey/articleshow/11585141.cms http://tobacco.org/news/332421.html JAIPUR: In 10 districts of the state, tobacco and liquor are consumed by at least one person in majority of the houses. Experts say, in India tobacco is the main cause of cancer. The survey was conducted by HUNGaMA in 10 districts of the state covering 11,319 children, 7,683 mothers and 7,674 households. During the survey, it was found that at least one member of a family consumes liquor or tobacco in 82% houses in Baran district. In Kota, the figure is as high as 88%. At least one member of a family consuming tobacco/liquor in Karauli is 82%. In Banswara it is 61% and 54% in Barmer. In Bharatpur, it is 65%, Dholpur 85%, Dungarpur 67%, Jaisalmer 71% and Jhalawar 76%. The Times of India India Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2011-12/21/content_14299597.htm http://tobacco.org/news/332401.html Children whose fathers smoked around the time of their conception have at least a 15 percent higher risk of developing the most common form of childhood cancer, a type of leukemia, according to an Australian study. Although the findings, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, credit multiple factors in children developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the study follows others that have also found an increased risk. "Study results suggest that heavier paternal smoking around the time of conception is a risk factor for childhood ALL," write researchers led by Elizabeth Milne at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Australia. China Daily Australia Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.healthpolicy.ucla.edu/NewsReleaseDetails.aspx?id=88 http://tobacco.org/news/332366.html CORRECTION: [Nov. 2, 2011] A sample size miscalculation in the original version of this publication resulted in errors to the estimated number of children affected by secondhand smoke, although the percentages, interpretation and findings remain correct. The errors were related to pooling three cycles of CHIS data. The Center regrets the error. A corrected version of the policy brief is attached, as well as an updated version of the original press release. Specifically, the following numbers were revised: The total estimated number of children annually affected by secondhand smoke was revised from 2.5 million to 966,000. The total number of children estimated to be exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes each year was revised from 561,000 to 224,000. The total number of children estimated to live in homes where there is an adult or teen smoker in the household, but smoking is never allowed in the home, was revised from 1.9 million to 742,000. . . . Despite having the second-lowest smoking rate in the nation, California is still home to nearly one million children under the age of 12 who are exposed to secondhand smoke, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Using data from several cycles of the California Health Interview Survey, the study's authors estimate that 224,000 children are directly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home. Another 742,000 are at risk because they live in a home where another family member is a smoker, even though smoking may not be allowed in the home itself. UCLA Center for Health Policy Research healthpolicy@ucla.edu Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://7thspace.com/headlines/403879/household_secondhand_smoke_exposure_of_elementary_schoolchildren_in_southern_taiwan_and_factors_associated_with_their_confidence_in_avoiding_exposure_a_cross_sectional_study.html http://tobacco.org/news/332204.html Results: Over 50% of children were found to have lived with a family member who smoked in front of them after the new law enacted, and 35% of them were exposed to household SHS more than 4 days a week. Having a positive attitude toward smoking (beta = -0.05 to -0.06) and high household SHS exposure (beta = -0.34 to -0.47) were significantly associated with a lower avoidance of SHS exposure. Comparing to girls, boys had lower scores in their knowledge of tobacco hazards; and this factor was significantly related to their SHS avoidance (beta = 0.13 to 0.14). Conclusions: The intervention program should enhance school children do actively avoid exposure to SHS in home settings, and more importantly, provide tobacco hazard knowledge to male students to avoid exposure to household SHS for themselves. The results also provide further evidence that Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act should perhaps be extended to the family environment in order to protect children from the hazards of household SHS exposure. 7thSpace Interactive Taiwan Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/166/1/104 http://tobacco.org/news/332127.html Ear infections are very common in children; these infections are often called middle ear disease and include: * Acute otitis media: Children with acute otitis media have signs and symptoms of infection, such as ear pain and fever. Acute otitis media is very common in children; more than 5 million cases occur each year in the United States. * Otitis media with effusion: Children with otitis media with effusion have extra fluid in the middle ear, so symptoms may include feeling like the ear is plugged or difficulty hearing. Children often get otitis media with effusion after having a cold or viral infection. About 90% of children have otitis media with effusion before starting school, most often between ages 6 months and 4 years. Even though these infections are common, they can have serious consequences. Children who have repeated ear infections sometimes need surgery, which has risks. Children who have middle ear . . . [Full Text of this Article] Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/166/1/18 http://tobacco.org/news/332126.html Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of the association between secondhand tobacco smoke (SHTS) and middle ear disease (MED) in children. . . . Conclusions Exposure to SHTS, particularly to smoking by the mother, significantly increases the risk of MED in childhood; this risk is particularly strong for MED requiring surgery. We have shown that per year 130 200 of child MED episodes in the United Kingdom and 292 950 of child frequent ear infections in the United States are directly attributable to SHTS exposure in the home. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.pediatricsupersite.com/view.aspx?rid=91102 http://tobacco.org/news/331734.html Smoking cessation interventions directed at parents can help protect vulnerable children from harm due to tobacco smoke exposure, yet most parents do not quit and require additional strategies, according to study results published online recently. Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials published in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and PsycINFO before April 2011. Eligible trials included those that adhered to a randomized controlled trial design; targeted smoking parents of infants or young children; encouraged parents to quit smoking for their children's benefit; maintained a minimum of 1-month observation period from the start of the intervention; and measured parental quit rates. PediatricSuperSite.com Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22097395?tool=MedlinePlus http://tobacco.org/news/331658.html Despite the steady decline of smoking rates in California, over 200,000 children under age 12 live in homes where smoking is allowed, and another 742,000 live with an adult or adolescent smoker. Significant differences in children's exposure to tobacco smoke and risk of exposure are found by race/ethnicity, geographic regions within the state and by poverty level. African-American children were found to have a significantly higher rate of exposure than other racial and ethnic groups, while children in the Northern/Sierra and San Joaquin Valley regions were at the highest risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. Children living in lower-income households were also at higher risk. These findings can aid strategies to decrease children's exposure to tobacco smoke in the home through targeted public health messages and outreach to those enrolled in public programs. National Institutes of Health Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/12/21/peds.2011-3190.full.pdf http://tobacco.org/news/331433.html Pediatricians and other pediatric health care providers have a unique role to play with young families. Because 26% of 18 to 44 year olds have no health insurance,8 many young parents will only interface with the health care system through their child’s doctor. Given pediatric pro- viders’ focus on health promotion/disease prevention and the fre- quency of planned well-child visits over the first years of life, the pediatrician’s office is an ideal place to stress the importance of pro- tecting children from the harms of SHS, to advise parents to quit to- bacco, and to support their cessation efforts. This is shown in another important article by Rosen et al9 in this issue of Pediatrics: a meta- analysis of published intervention trials that were designed to protect children from tobacco smoke exposure through parental cessation or modification of parental smoking patterns. This meta-analysis finds that counseling in the pediatric office setting for parental smoking cessation is effective, although cessation rates are modest. Analyses in this article reveal that encouraging parents to quit specifically to protect their children’s health is also a motivating tactic for cessation efforts. Additional trials are indicated to improve the effectiveness of tobacco interventions delivered during the pediatric health care Pediatrics Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT