WHO warns of danger of second-hand smoke on kids

MANILA, Philippines - Children who get exposed to second-hand smoke could suffer various debilitating and life-threatening illnesses, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned over the weekend.

WHO Country Representative Julie Hall said that while “it is more dangerous to smoke cigarettes yourself, inhaling someone’s else’s smoke also has its danger, particularly among children.”

Children exposed to second-hand smoke tend to develop otitis media or ear infection, throat infection and pneumonia among other illnesses, Hall said.

But what is more alarming, Hall warned, is that these conditions are “much more common in those children who live in households that are exposed to smoke all the time.”

“Second-hand smoking is dangerous particularly to children... The exposure happens mostly at home and we can control that. If you are smoking, go outside.  Ideally, stop smoking but if you can’t, go outside,” she added.

WHO said there is carcinogenic risk associated with involuntary smoking among adults. “There is clear scientific evidence of an increased risk of lung cancer in non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.”

Aside from this, second-hand smoke could also cause acute coronary diseases, chronic respiratory condition, exacerbation of asthma and reduced lung function.

Every year, around six million people die from smoking while half a million others die from second hand smoke, Hall said. “So smoking itself, taking up the habit, clearly is more dangerous but second-hand smoke still kills people. It’s not without danger at all so we want to reduce both,” she added.