Effect of second-hand smoke on systemic, oral and psychological health of primary school children in Western Uttar Pradesh: a biochemical analysis

BACKGROUND Second Hand smoke (SHS) exposure to children causes several systemic problems like asthma, dental problems like caries and effects overall well being. This study was conducted to study impact of SHS on primary school children by associating it with dental caries, cotinine level, asthma severity and overall well being. METHODS Case control study was conducted amongst 200 children 9-15 years old that came to dental college in Muradnagar. Children who lived in smoking households were identified as SHS subjects-100 children and those who lived in non smoking households were identified as control group- 100 children. Parents completed questionnaire regarding their smoking status. In children's questionnaire severity of asthma was determined by using expert panel report (EPR3), dental caries was recorded by dmft index and psychological assessment of children was done using WHO- 5 well being index. Collection of unstimulated saliva of children was done in sterile plastic tubes and cotinine level was measured using enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Students t test and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for analysing data. RESULTS Mean number of children suffering from asthma was higher in SHS subjects in comparison to control group i.e. 348.9 ±166.509 and 247.3±15.86 respectively. dmft and WHO- well being scores increased as level of cotinine increased. Mean cotinine level was higher in SHS subjects than control group i.e. 348.9 ±166.509 and 247.3±15.86 respectively. CONCLUSIONS SHS has an adverse impact on young children reflected by poor dmft scores and psychological well being, increased cotinine levels and asthma severity in comparison to control group.