Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are likely to get less benefit from the inhaled steroid medications used to prevent or abort asthma attacks.
Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy are likely to get less benefit from the inhaled steroid medications used to prevent or abort asthma attacks.
Studies have shown that children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy have a higher risk of developing asthma. Inhaled steroids are the mainstay of therapy for persistent asthma, helping to prevent attacks of coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.
To explore the association between prenatal smoking and asthma attacks in children, researchers followed 1041 children, aged between five and 12 years with mild-to-moderate asthma who were randomly assigned to use budesonide (a steroid) inhaler, another type of inhaled asthma medication called nedocromil or a placebo over four years. Participants were divided into two groups children with prenatal tobacco exposure and children without prenatal tobacco exposure. Overall, both groups of children improved with the medication.
It was found that those who had been exposed to smoke in the womb had 26% lower response to the inhaled corticosteroid budesonide than children with no prenatal exposure to smoking.
The study suggests that prenatal exposure to smoke can influence the development of the lung structure or the smooth muscles of the airways, which could affect the body's later response to asthma medications.
Studies have shown that children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy have a higher risk of developing asthma. Inhaled steroids are the mainstay of therapy for persistent asthma, helping to prevent attacks of coughing, wheezing and breathlessness.
To explore the association between prenatal smoking and asthma attacks in children, researchers followed 1041 children, aged between five and 12 years with mild-to-moderate asthma who were randomly assigned to use budesonide (a steroid) inhaler, another type of inhaled asthma medication called nedocromil or a placebo over four years. Participants were divided into two groups children with prenatal tobacco exposure and children without prenatal tobacco exposure. Overall, both groups of children improved with the medication.
It was found that those who had been exposed to smoke in the womb had 26% lower response to the inhaled corticosteroid budesonide than children with no prenatal exposure to smoking.
The study suggests that prenatal exposure to smoke can influence the development of the lung structure or the smooth muscles of the airways, which could affect the body's later response to asthma medications.
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