Lorillard
Chapter 9 the Effects of Passive Smoking and Day Care on Respiratory Illnesses in Children
Fields
- Author
- Bennett, G.
- Type
- REPT, OTHER REPORT
- BIBL, BIBLIOGRAPHY
- CHAR, CHART/GRAPH/MAPS
- BIBL, BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Area
- SPEARS,ALEXANDER/OFFICE
- Site
- G65
- Request
- R1-037
- Named Organization
- Canadian Pediatric Assn
- Natl Research Council
- Symposium of Infectious Diseases in Chil
- Natl Research Council
- Named Person
- Bartlett
- Denny
- Fleming
- Haskins
- Henderson
- Oconnell
- Pedreira
- Pukander
- Rogers
- Visscher
- Denny
- Date Loaded
- 18 Dec 2001
- Master ID
- 87808171/8434
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an organized educational program and scheduled activities for
children. There is a wide variety of play materials, child-size
furnishings, outdoor space and equipment, and a school-like
atmosphere. Careqivers are also more likely to have some training
in child development. (35) In the typical day care center,
children spend a major portion of their time grouped by age in
separate rooms and under the supervision of one or more adults.
This sector is almost always subject to government regulation and
is the smallest of the 3 sectors. (17) However, centers are the
fastest growing segment in the day care market. (1, 24, 28)
2.1.2. Dsaqe
The most drastic change in infant care has been the return of
parents to work while their children are infants. (26) In a 1982
report, Child Care Arrancements of Working Mothers (28), 6 million
women aged 18 to 44 with a child under 5 years of age were in the
civilian labor force. Table 1 list the percent distribution of the
type of child day care used by the age of the child. Nine percent
(9f) of working mothers were able to care for their children while
working. Almost one-third (30.5%) arranged for.in-home care of
their children. However, day care homes were the predominate
source of care selected ,i.e., 40.2%. The use of day care centers
increases with the age of the child.
Table 2 describes the percent distribution of care-givers by the
age of the child. Fathers were the primary care-qivers to 14% of
the children of working mothers. Among husbands who were the
principal caretakers, 71% were employed, 24% unemployed and 5% were
not in labor force. (28)
Relatives provided child care to 29% of the children of working
mothers. Grandparents were the principal care-givers among
relatives. Seventeen percent (17%) of all pre-schoolers and 22.4%
of infants received day care from their grandparents. Other
relatives cared for 12% of the children. Grandparent or otlier
relative, however, provided care for the children of 40% of
unmarried mothers. (28)
Non-relatives provided 27.5% of all day care to children of working
mothers. This makes non-relatives the single largest source of
care-givers. Data in Table 3 show that care was given in the home
of a non-relative to 22% of all children and about 25% of infants
and toddlers. (28)
2.1.3. Personnel
In the National Day Care Center Study (33), the average weekly fee
in day care homes was $20.85 per child. The fees were $17.80,
$22.65, and $26.36 in non-regulated, regulated, and sponsored homes
respectively. In both day care homes and many centers, the mean
119

against the four most common respiratory viruses would appear to
be a reasonable step. However, Denny (9) cautioned that the two
commercially available vaccines, S. pneumoniae and type b H.
influenzae, are not very effective in children under two years of
age where most infections occur. He also noted that while current
efforts to produce effective respiratory vaccines are extensive,
the problems associated with their development are very great.
2. DAY CARE IN THE U. 8.
2 . 1. 6ENER7IL CHARACTERISTICS
2.1.1. Types
In 1982, 6 million mothers (48.2%) with a child under the age of
5 were in the civilian work force and the upward trend is
continuing (28). Their children are cared for in three basic types
of day care delivery systems. They are in-home care, family day
care, and group day care.
In-home care is provided in the child's home by a parents,
relative, or non-relative. In 1982, 30.6% 'of the children of
working mothers received in-home day care. Fathers and others
relatives provided most of this type of care. (28, 50) In-home
care by a non-relatives is the most expensive form of care and is
used by only 5.5% of working mothers. (35)
Family day care (day care homes) is given by a non-relative in a
private home other than the child's. (2, 50) Day care homes
include more children than any other form of day care. These homes
are generally divided into three basic types: informal homes,
registered/licensed homes and network homes. Informal homes -
which are not regulated, registered, or linked to any sponsoring
agency - are the most common. Ninety-four percent (94%) of all
children in family day care attend these homes. Registered or
licensed day care home are required to meet state/local regulation.
The smallest subset of day care homes operate within networks
administered by a sponsoring agency that is either for profit or
nonprofit. The average number of children per day care home is
3.5. Non-regulated homes average 3.6 children compared to 4.5 in
regulated homes. (2, 15)
Day care homes offer a cozier settings with more adult attention
and fewer pears. Individual discipline and training for compliance
are usually better. They are well suited for the care of infants,
toddlers, and slow-to-mature older children. This form of care is
also the least expensive. However, most providers have little or
no training (17, 35) and there is no assurance that providers
place children's needs above the desire to earn a living. (17)
Day care centers, including nurseries, provide care for 12 or more
children in nonresidential buildings. (17, 49) They usually offer
118

Much more needs to be known about the impact on child health and
the practice of family day care before this approach can be
knowledgeably recommended. (2)
The smoking patterns of day care workers, particular those in day
care homes, should be identified. Data from the National Health
Interview Surveys, 1978-1980 put the prevalence of smoking among
female child care workers at 28.9t. These data excluded private
household child care workers with whom most children, particularly
infants and toddlers, are cared.
1. 3. EDIIC7ITION
At the moment, Parents must judge for themselves the quality of
care given to their children. However, most parents do not know
what to look for in a day care setting and there are no federally
sanctioned standards. (35, 50) There are, however, guidelines that
are generally agreed upon within the child development community.
(35) A checklist for quality of care has also been developed and
found to differentiate between centers of high quality and low
quality. The checklist includes one item on smoking: "Adults do
not smoke in rooms where children are." (7, 35)
The body of information now available on the prevention and
management of infectious diseases in day care should be widely
disseminated to day care providers, public health workers, health
care providers, and parents. Public health authorities must be
armed with low-cost materials to distribute to day care providers.
(1)
S. sQ)D1ARY AND COHCLflBION
The children of working parents are receiving day care primarily
in their own home, family day care homes, and day care centers.
Family day care is the largest of the three sectors but day care
centers represent the fastest growing segment. Studies, mostly in
Scandinavian countries, have demonstrated that children attending
day care centers and probably family day care have more respiratory
infections than children receiving in-home care. The effect is
greatest among infants and toddlers.
Another group of studies have linked parental smoking, primarily
maternal smoking, with an increase in respiratory diseases among
infants. However, most of these studies did not control for day
care attendance. The few studies that controlled for parental
smoking and day care attendance shoved a consistent and positive
association for day care attendance. The results were mixed for
parental smoking. None of the studies, however, controlled for the
possible confounding factor of exposure to environment tobacco
smoke by children who were cared for by day care workers who smoked
cigarettes.
127
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Emergency Room Visits of Urban Children With Asthma,"
American Review of Respiratory Diseases; 1987; 135:
567-572
12. Fergusson, DM; Horwood, LJi Shannon, FT7 Taylor, B.
"Parental Smoking and Lower respiratory Illness in the First
Three Years of Life," Journal of Epidemiology and Community
Health, 35(3): 180-184; September, 1981
13. Ferris, BGt Ware, JH; Berkey, CSi Dockery, DW; Spiro III, A;
Speizer, FE; "Effects of Passive Smoking on Health of
Children," Environmental Health Perspectives, 62: 289-295;
1985
14. Fleming, DW; et al; "Childhood Upper Respiratory Tract
Infections: To What Degree is Incidence Affected By Day Care
Attendances!" Pediatrics; 1987, January; 79(1): 55-60
15. Fosburg, S: Family Day Care In The United States: Summary
of Findings; Government Printing Office, 1981
16. Giebink, GSO "Epidemiology and Natural History of otitis
Media;" in Lim, DJ; et al; Recent Advances in Otitis Media
With Effusion; 1984; 5-8
17. Haskins, R; "Day Care and Illness: Evidence, Costs, and
Public Policy;" Pediatrics; 1986; 77: 951-982
18. Henderson, FWp Giebink, GSf "Otitis Media Among Children in
Day Care: Epidemiology and Pathogenesis;" Review of
Infectious Diseases; 1986, July-August; 8(4): 533-538
19. Ingvarsson, L; Lundgren, K7 Olofsson, B; "Epidemiology of
Acute Otitis Media in Children-A Cohort Study in an Urban
Population;" in Lim, DJt et ali Recent Advances in Otitis
Media With Effusion; Philadelphia: B C Decker; 1984;
19-22
20. Iverson, M; Birch, L7 Lundqvist, G; Elbrond, 0. "Middle Ear
Effusion in Children and the Indoor Environment: An
Epidemiological Study," Archives of Environmental Health
40(2): 74-79; March-April, 1985
21. Kraemer, MJP "Risk Factor for Persistent Middle Ear
Effusions;" Journal of American Medical Association; 1983,
February 25; 249(8): 1022-1025
22. Leeder, SR; Corkhill, RT; Irwig, LM; Holland, WW. "Influence
of Family Factors on the Incidence of Lower Respiratory
Illness During the First Year of Life," British Journal of
Preventive and Social Medicine, 30(4): 203-212, December,
1976
130

now work outside the home, (28, 37) the smoking habits of private
day care givers must be considered as an important variable in the
development of childhood respiratory infections. (37). The Section
on Allergy of the Canadian Pediatric Association (6) reported that
infants admitted to hospitals for chest problems had been found to
have significantly more day care givers who smoke than did control
infants.
The smoking practices of workers in day care homes deserves
immediate attention because this sector includes more children than
the others and its popularity with mothers of infants and toddlers.
Day care mothers who smoke and care for infant and toddlers
probably spend as much time if not more with these children as
their mothers. Thus, the smoking habits of these day care workers
potentially confound the results of studies of the effect of
parental smoking on the health of children.
4. RECOMMSND1lTIONa
4.1.REOULATIONB
Existing day care regulations clearly are deficient in mandating
a safe and healthy day care environment. Federal regulation, while
desirable, is not feasible at this time since the prevailing
attitude today is away from federal intervention and toward state
and personal responsibility. (49)
Before proposing solutions, Haskins (17) recommend that one should
determine if the current state of day care regulation is causing
the market to function improperly. He also warned that the
scientific data necessary for a convincing case of market failure
and an accurate assessment of benefits and costs are currently
inadequate. Thus, the policy problems cannot receive a complete
assessment until the state of knowledge improves. Meanwhile, he
suggested that the most important interim steps are to give parents
better information about day care and strengthen state regulations
that are clearly related to health outcomes.
In designing health policies for day care, it is important to
approach the problems comprehensively and constructively. (24) We
must keep in mind the potentially positive as well as negative
effects of substitute care on children's health (49, 50) and the
reasons families turn to day care in the first place, namely,
because both parents must have child care during work hours. (35,
50)
The regulation of day care homes, which contain the most children
is an especially delicate issue. Bartlett and colleagues (2) warns
that increased regulation of homes might have the effect of
actually decreasing the availability of this mode of child care.
Haskins (2) also cautioned that the sheer number of providers and
the small size of these units would make effective oversight a
125

pollution.
Nonetheless, reviewers have concluded that most studies have shown
an increase in mild acute respiratory illnesses among children in
day care and this effect occurred primarily in younger children.
There is stronger evidence for initial and recurrent otitis media.
(17) Large group day care centers and probably smaller day care
homes are settings in which the incidence of otitis media is
increased for young children. (2, 17, 18, 31) Studies also show
reduced rates of both symptoms and acute illnesses with increasing
age in all sites and there is very little evidence of an excessive
rate of illness in day care children for the more serious
respiratory illnesses. (17) Although most studies have found
increased rates of acute, minor, respiratory illnesses among
children in day care, asymptomatic children in day care do not have
higher levels of respiratory tract pathogens or even different
pathogens than children reared at home. (1, 17, 40) However, The
true incidence of infectious disease in family day care is unknown
since most of it is unlicensed. Therefore, conclusions cannot be
made on this mode of care. (2)
3. PASSIVE 8NO1CIN0
3.1.RELATIONBHIP TO DISEASES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN
A number of studies have demonstrated a positive association
between passive smoking and lower respiratory symptoms (4, 5, 13,
36) and lower respiratory diseases (11, 12, 22, 29, 48) in infants
and young children. Maternal smoking, when measured, showed a high
correlation with respiratory symptoms and diseases in the above
studies whereas, paternal smoking was rarely significant.
Studies on the relationship of passive smoking to the development
of bronchiolitis are less clear. Two studies (32, 38) show a
positive association with maternal smoking. However, Pedreira and
colleagues (29) did not find a relationship.
Otitis media is the only upper respiratory disease reported in the
literature as being associated with passive smoking. Six studies
(3, 20:, 21, 30, 34) showed an increase incidence of otitis media
with maternal smoking. However, in four other studies (39, 45, 46,
47) parental smoking was not significant. Pukander and colleagues
(30) suggest that these studies may not have found a relationship
because of the maskinq effect of day care attendance and other
confounding variables.
Two comprehensive reviews (27, 43) have concluded that bronchitis,
pneumonia, other lower respiratory tract illnesses and otitis media
occur more frequently during the first year of life in children
with mothers who smoke. The National Research Council (27),
however, emphasized the need for caution in the interpretation of
the results of the studies on the effect of involuntary smoking.
123

34. Said, G; Zalokar, J; Lellouch, J; Patois, E; "Parental
Smoking Related To Adenoidectomy and Tonsillectomy in
Children," Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health,
32(2): 97-101; June, 1978
35. Scarr, St Mother Care, Other Care; New York: Basic Books;
1984
36. Schenker, MB; Samet, JM; Speizer, FE "Risk Factors for
Childhood Respiratory Disease: The Effect of Host Factors
and Home Environmental Exposure," American Respiratory
Disease, 128: 1038-1043; 1983
37. Section Allergy, Canadian Pediatric Association; "Secondhand
Smoke Worsens Symptoms in Children With Asthma;" Canadian
Medical Association Journal; 1986, August 2; 135(4):
321-323
38. Sims, DG; Downham, M7 Gardner, PS; Webb, J; Weightman, D.
"Study of 8-Year-Old Children With A History of Respiratory
39.
40.
41.
Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis in Infancy," British Journal
of Medicine, 1(6104): 11-14, January 7, 1978
Stahlberg, MR; "The Influence of Form Day Care on the
Occurrence of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections Among
Children;" Acta Paediatric Scandinavia [Supplement]7 1980;
282: 1-87
Strangert, K; Carlstrom, G; Jeansson, S; Nord, CE;
"Infections in Preschool Children In Group Day Care," Acta
Paediatric Scandinavia, 65: 455-463, 1976
Strangert, K; "Respiratory Illness in Preschool Children
With Different Forms of Day Care," Pediatrics, 57(2):
191-196; February, 1976
42. Task Force on Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases;
Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases; Division of Lung
Diseases, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute; November,
1981
43. Public Health Service, The Health Consequences of
Involuntary Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD:
Government Printing Office, 1986
44. Public Health Service, The Health Consequences of Smoking:
Cancer and Chronic Lung Disease in the Workplace, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, DHHS (PHS)
85-50207, 1985
132

independent risk factors, such as age and sex, were not always
taken into account. Interpretation of epidemiological studies is
hampered by the existence of factors that interact with and modify
the response to exposure and by confounding factors that are
associated with the same symptom complex. While several
statistical approaches were used to control for potentially
confounding variables, however, researchers do not agree on the
nature of the roles of the variables as confounders and the
appropriate ways to introduce these variables into the data
analysis. The use of questionnaires to collect information on
symptoms are prone to recall bias. Most studies examined only the
effects of exposure to parental smoking, excluding exposures
outside the immediate family, and found significant association
only for the effect of maternal.smoking. In future studies, great
care must be taken to account for potential confounding variables
in the analyses.
Two researchers offered explanation for the observed association
with only maternal smoking. Pedreira and colleagues (29)
postulated that the mother, more often than the father, remained
at home with the child. This also suggest that the duration of
exposure rather than the presence of a smoker is the important
factor in infant-related respiratory diseases. Ware and colleagues
(48) also suggested that this somewhat stronger association need
not imply any special risk associated with maternal smoking. They
argued that a more plausible interpretation is that children are
more likely to be with their mothers than with their fathers at the
times smoking occurs.
3.2.DAY CIIRE 718 A CONFOVNDSNG 7ARIABLE
Reviewers have concluded that exposure to parental smoking
increases the risk of upper and lower respiratory diseases in
infants. Day care attendance also greatly increase the occurrence
of upper respiratory infections and perhaps some lower respiratory
illnesses in infants and toddlers. However, studies focusing
primarily on the effects of passive smoking have failed to control
for day care attendance and many of the studies on day care
infections did not consider parental smoking as a possible
confounding variable. Moreover, none of the studies in either area
considered the smoking habits of day care workers.
Seven of the day care studies (14, 19, 30, 39, 45, 46, 47) did
consider parental smoking. Two of these studies (14, 30) found a
positive and independent effect for both day care attendance and
maternal smoking. The effect of day care had the strongest in both
cases. The remainder showed a statistical significance for day
care attendance only. Pukander and colleagues (30) argued that
the effect of day care attendance may have masked the effects of
maternal smoking in these studies.
Given that almost 50% of mothers of children under 5 years of age
124

23. Lundgren, K; Ingvarsson, L7 Olofsson, B; "Epidemiological
Aspect in Children With Recurrent Acute Otitis Media;" in
Lim, DJ; et al; Recent Advances in Otitis Media With
Effusion; Philadelphia: B C Decker; 1984; 22-25
24. Marwick, C1 Simmons, K; "Changing Childhood Disease Pattern
Linked With Day-Care Boom;" Journal of American Medical
Association; 1984, March 9; 251(10): 1245-1247, 1250-1251
25. McConnochie, K; Hall, CP Barker, Wf "Lower Respiratory Tract
Illness in the First Two Years of Life: Epidemiologic
Patterns and Costs in a Suburban Pediatric Practice;"
American Journal of Public Health; 1988, January; 78(1):
34-39
26. Morgan, G7 Stevenson, C; Fiena, Rf Stephens, K; "Gaps and
Excesses in the Regulation of Child Care: Report of a
Panel;" Review of Infectious Diseases; 1986, July-August:
8(4): 634-643
27. National Research Council; Environmental Tobacco Smoke -
Measuring Exposure and Assessing Health Effects; Washington,
DC: National Academy Press; 1986
28. O'Connell, Hi Rogers, CCJ "Child Care Arrangements of
Working Mothers: June 19827" Current Population Reports
(Bureau of Census); 1982; Special Studies P-23; No. 129
29. Pedreira, F; Guandolo, V; Feroli, E; Mella, G; Weiss, I;
"Involuntary Smoking and Incidence of Respiratory Illness
During the First Year of Live," Pediatrics, 1985; 75:
594-597.
30. Pukander, J; Luotonen, J; Timonen, M; Karma, P; "Risk
Factors Affecting the Occurrence of Otitis Media Among 2-3
Year Old Urban Children;" Acta Otolaryngology [Stockholm];
1985, September-October; 100(3-4): 260-265
31. Pukander, J7 Sipira, M; Karma, P; "Occurrence of and Risk
Factors in Acute Otitis Mediai" in Lim, DJ; et al; Recent
Advances in Otitis Media With Effusion; Philadelphia: B C
Decker; 1984; 9-13
32. Pullan, CRr Hey, EN. "Wheezing, Asthma, and Pulmonary
Dysfunction 10 Years After Infection With Respiratory
Syncytial Virus in Infancy," British Journal of Medicine,
284(6330): 1665-1669, June 5, 1982
33. Ruopp, Rt Travers, J; Glantz, F; Coelen, C. Children At the
Center: Summary Findings and their Implications; Cambridge,
MA: Abt Books; 1979
131

formidable and expensive task.
Furthermore, if regulations are made too strict, costs will go up
and day care centers will be put beyond the means of those who need
them the most. The results might send day-care underground where
it could operate without proper health supervision. (24)
Haskins (2) proposed the following steps to help parent get
information:
1.Require homes and centers to permit unlimited and unscheduled
visits by parents;
2.Put parents in a position of power and authority in the
operation of day care through membership on boards;
3.Require all facilities to have written policies on health and
that a copy be given to parentst and
4.Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C) be the primary actor in
providing training and providing parents with information on child
care.
The Symposium of Infectious Diseases in Child Day Care:
Management and Prevention voiced unanimous support for strict
adherence to a policy of frequent hand washing; and at least daily
cleaning and sanitization of surfaces used for diapering, food
preparation, and those that are mouthed by infants and toddlers.
(1)
Fleming and colleagues (14) addressed the issue of passive smoking.
They noted that the major difference between maternal smoking and
day care attendance, is that maternal smoking is preventable,
whereas day care attendance is not. Child care is an irreplaceable
service which also results in the transmission of disease.
Therefore, reduction of other risks among children who attend day
eare is the most practical approach.
4.2.RESEARCH
Little is known about the actual practices of licensing agencies
and the effectiveness of regulation. Do children in day care visit
health professional more often for infectious diseases? If they
do, is it because day care programs are urging more frequent
consultations, because the parents are more anxious about the
threat that their children will be excluded from day care if sick,
or because there actually are more infections. (1)
The sparse data available regarding family day care make it
important to pay more attention to this mode. Since day care homes
includes more children, particularly infants and toddlers, it is
important to understand the disease experiences in these homes.
126
