Smoking during pregnancy may increase the risk that children will suffer chronic ear infections, say scientists in the US. Previous research had shown that children whose parents smoke are at greater risk of developing the infections, but researchers were unclear whether the greater risk is from smoke encountered during pregnancy or after birth. Now, says Dr Judith Lieu of Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, it is possible that in-utero exposure is the bigger factor.
(Reuters 21/02/02)

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