Parental smoking and childhood asthma

Abstract

Parental smoking is hazardous to all children, especially those who have asthma. Passive smoke exposure can cause an increase in asthma symptoms, emergency department visits, and hospital admissions. Primary care providers must protect these children by helping reduce this exposure. This article describes the relationship between asthma and parental smoking, discusses the provider's role in encouraging smoking cessation, and offers practical alternatives for counseling parents who are unable to quit smoking. A hierarchical system of levels is used to help the provider educate the parents and give them a goal for which to strive.