Cotinine and interferon-gamma levels in pre-school children exposed to household tobacco smoke

  • Lina Kalalo Department of Child Health, Sam Ratulangi University Medical School, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital
  • Diana Takumansang-Sondakh Department of Child Health, Sam Ratulangi University Medical School, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital
  • Audrey Wahani Department of Child Health, Sam Ratulangi University Medical School, Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital
Keywords: environmental tobacco smoke, nicotine, IFN-g, pre-school children

Abstract

Background Environmental tobacco smoke has been consistently linked to negative health outcomes, especially in children, including an increased susceptibility to infections. Cigarette smoking has a depressive effect on interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Serum cotinine is a marker of exposure to smoke.
Objective To determine the association between serum cotinine and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in children with household tobacco smoke exposure.
Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Tumumpa and Singkil Districts of Manado, Indonesia, from February to May 2012. Subjects were collected by consecutively sampling of healthy children aged 1-3 years who came to the integrated health posts. Seventy-four children were recruited and consisted of two groups of 37 subjects each, the tobacco smoke exposure group and the non-tobacco smoke exposure group. Blood specimens were collected from all subjects for laboratory blood tests of cotinine and IFN-γ levels. Results were analyzed by T-test and Pearson’s correlation analysis with a P<0.05 is considered as statistically significant.
Results There was no significant correlation between serum cotinine and interferon-γ levels in the tobacco smoke exposure group. However, the interferon-γ level in the tobacco smoke exposure group was significantly lower than that of the non-tobacco smoke exposure group (P<0.0001).
Conclusion Cotinine is not related to the interferon-γ level in children exposed to tobacco smoke, however, the interferon-γ level in children with tobacco smoke exposure is lower than in the non-tobacco smoke exposure group.

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Published
2013-10-30
How to Cite
1.
Kalalo L, Takumansang-Sondakh D, Wahani A. Cotinine and interferon-gamma levels in pre-school children exposed to household tobacco smoke. PI [Internet]. 30Oct.2013 [cited 22Nov.2024];53(5):287-0. Available from: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/308
Received 2016-08-21
Accepted 2016-08-21
Published 2013-10-30