Secondhand smoke causes disease and even premature death in
children and in adults who do not smoke.
Children: sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections (including bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia), tuberculosis, and more severe asthma, varied respiratory symptoms, delayed lung growth. Strong evidence of increased middle ear effusion, reduced lung function, and reduced lung growth.
Adults: lung cancer in spouses of smokers, impaired breathing, aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease,lowered defenses against infections, exacerbation of allergicresponses.