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Comparison of Salivary Cotinine Levels of Neonates Born to Mothers Exposed to Varying Degrees of Passive Cigarette Smoke

Introduction: Obstetrical data reveals that fetuses born to mothers who are exposed to passive smoking show adverse health outcomes.

Aims & Objectives: To compare the cotinine levels in neonates born to mothers exposed to varying degrees of passive cigarette smoke versus the control group i.e., mothers who are not exposed to smoking.

Place and duration of study: This study was conducted in Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore and in emergency Labor Room of Ganga Ram hospital, Lahore from December 2015 to May 2016.

Material & Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative study in which neonatal salivary cotinine level were measured and its relationship with birth weight was observed in 120 subjects, divided in four groups: .i) neonates whose mothers were not-exposed to smoke, neonates whose mothers were exposed to, ii) 1-5 cigarette, iii) 6-10 cigarettes and iv) more than 10 cigarettes per day.

Results: Salivary cotinine levels were raised in all four groups with maximum levels seen in group four but there was no statistical difference between groups. Changes in the birth weight were also seen with increased exposure to passive smoking.

Conclusion: Salivary cotinine concentration in neonates increases due to passive exposure to cigarette smoke in mothers because of disregard of smokers to the adverse effects of nicotine inside homes and almost no governmental enforcement of laws regarding cigarette smoking in public spaces.