Children more at risk of bacterial infection

A new study about the effects of exposure to smoking on children has come up with ominous results: children exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to carry higher levels of harmful bacteria, called Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Researchers in Israel conducted a surveillance study of more than 200 young children and their mothers. They swabbed the noses and throats of the subjects to determine bacterial carriage rates, and then analyzed the data based on the children’s and mothers’ exposure to smoking. They found that smoking mothers and their have higher bacterial counts.

So think twice before smoking near kids!

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