Cigarette smoking and respiratory tract infection.

摘要: Although not conclusive, several lines of evidence suggest that cigarette smoking alters the respiratory tract's ability to defend itself from infection. Some subjects with chronic bronchitis have colonization lower tract bacteria. Both patients disease and healthy smokers appear a higher frequency infections an increased severity symptoms when infected. Children exposed passively smoke rates illnesses. Yet marked variability in incidence infection population suggests there are subtle factors predispose some more risk than others. Cigarette is associated alterations mechanisms host defense system, even asymptomatic individuals (summarized Table 3). Ciliary function impaired, mucous volume increased, humoral response antigens altered, quantitative qualitative changes cellular components occur. these dose related; others revert normal after cessation. Yet, it unknown if one or all cause any significant compromise other factors, as yet unidentified, may be important. Answers questions await thorough elucidation function.