Guest guest Posted March 14, 2003 Report Share Posted March 14, 2003 > Daily News from Healthypages > 14 March 2003 > _______________________________ > > Tooth decay in children linked to passive smoking > > A significant amount of tooth decay cases in children may be caused by > passive smoking, according to the results of US research. > > The study, lead by Dr Andrew Aligne from Pediathink, a organisation > specialising in child health, found that exposure to cigarette smoke was > directly linked to the incidence of tooth decay and the risk of having > fillings in children aged four to 11 years. > > Researchers used data from a large health survey involving 3,531 children > conducted between 1988 and 1994. The children had dental check-ups and gave > blood samples which were then tested for cotinine – a bi-product of > nicotine which is found in the blood of smokers, or people who have been > breathing other people’s tobacco smoke. > > They found that over half of the children had been exposed to tobacco > smoke, and this was directly linked to the state of their teeth. > > Those who had high cotinine levels were twice as likely to have tooth decay > compared to those who had not been exposed to tobacco smoke. The > researchers then estimated that 27 per cent of all cases of tooth decay in > children could be due to passive smoking. > > Writing in the current edition of the Journal of the American Medical > Association, the authors of the report conclude, “There is an association > between environmental tobacco smoke and risk of caries among children. > Reduction of passive smoking is important not only for the prevention of > many medical problems, but also for the promotion of children's dental > health.†> > © HMG Worldwide 2003 > > > ******************************* > > Other stories > > Cancelled operations “declining†> Progress is being made on reducing the number of cancelled operations, > according to latest government figures. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2932 > > Women “not mentally affected†by pregnancy > Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence to indicate that women’s > mental abilities diminish during pregnancy, a UK psychologist has found. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2931 > > New breast test “could reduce false alarms†> Scientists in the US have developed a new scanning technique that can > double-check for breast cancer and could spare many women from unnecessary > surgery. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2930 > > Childhood myopia “a hereditary condition†> The time a child spends studying or reading has a minor effect on myopia, > although the main cause of the condition is genetic, US research suggests. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2929 > > WHO alert on atypical pneumonia > The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert warning that > outbreaks of a severe respiratory illness in parts of Asia pose a threat to > hospital staff. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2927 > > Scientists develop first brain prosthesis > Researchers in the US have developed the world’s first brain prosthesis > that is designed to perform the same function as the hippocampus. > Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2926 > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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