Influence of tobacco smoke in pediatric patients and young adult asthmatics in the province of Cordoba

Abstract

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the lower respiratory tract that causes symptoms such as wheezing, dyspnea, chest tightness and cough that vary over time in their appearance, frequency and intensity. It has been proposed that several genes with variable effects participate in its pathogenesis, as well as environmental factors, and the interaction between them modulates the clinical expression of asthma both at the beginning and in the course of the disease. Atopy is the most important identifiable predisposing factor for this disease. Environmental factors and lifestyle have been suggested as modulators in the development of atopy. Among the environmental factors, exposure to tobacco stands out, as well as exposure and sensitization to aeroallergens. There is currently no information available on how these factors influence the asthmatic pediatric population in the province of Córdoba.

With the aim of analyzing the influence of exposure to tobacco and the place of residence in asthmatic patients, correlating them fundamentally with their levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), 65 patients with a diagnosis of allergic bronchial asthma of the Division of Allergy and Immunology of the Children's Hospital of the Holy Trinity. The data was collected from the medical records compiled in the Division and analyzed statistically.

No statistically significant relationship was observed between high levels of IgE (NV = 0 to 200 IU/ml) with exposure to tobacco smoke, or with the place of origin.

The influence of these factors in the development and evolution of the disease is not ruled out. We propose that as it is a multifactorial disease, various genetic and environmental factors must be analyzed in order to reach conclusions that contribute to the epidemiology of this disease and that would help the treatment and follow-up of these patients.