Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-hvd4g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-27T10:49:13.138Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Smoking, the environment and meningococcal disease: a case control study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. E. Stanwell ,
J. M. Stuart ,
A. O. Hughes ,
P. Robinson ,
M. B. Griffin  and
K. Cartwright
R. E. Stanwell
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, Bristol and Weston Health Authority, Manulife House, 10 Marlborough Street, Bristol BS1 3NP
J. M. Stuart
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, Gloucester Health Authority, Rikenel, Montpellier, Gloucester GL1 1LY
A. O. Hughes
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR
P. Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, Gloucester Health Authority, Rikenel, Montpellier, Gloucester GL1 1LY
M. B. Griffin
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, Bristol and Weston Health Authority, Manulife House, 10 Marlborough Street, Bristol BS1 3NP
K. Cartwright
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This case control study investigated environmental factors in 74 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease (MD). In children aged under 5, passive smoking in the home (30 or more cigarettes daily) was associated with an odds ratio (OR) of 7.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46–38.66). ORs increased both with the numbers of cigarettes smoked and with the number of smokers in the household, suggesting a dose–response relationship. MD in this age group was also significantly associated with household overcrowding (more than 1.5 persons per room) (OR 6.0, 95% CI 1.10–32.8), with kisses on the mouth with 4 or more contacts in the previous 2 weeks (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.09–5.56), with exposure to dust from plaster, brick or stone in the previous 2 weeks (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.07–4.65); and with changes in residence (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.0–8.99), marital arguments (OR 3.0, 95 % CI 1.26–7.17) and legal disputes in the previous 6 months (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.24–7.78). These associations were independent of social class. Public health measures to lower the prevalence of cigarette smoking by parents of young children may reduce the incidence of MD. The influence of building dust and stressful life events merits further investigation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 112 , Issue 2 , April 1994 , pp. 315 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

References

REFERENCES

1. Registrar General's Weekly Return for England and Wales. OPCS Monitor 1991. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, London WC2B 6JP: WR 91/50.Google Scholar
Bjune, G, Hoiby, EA, Gronnesby, JK et al. , Effect of outer membrane vesicle vaccine against Group B meningococcal disease in Norway. Lancet 1991; 338: 1093–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuart, JM, Cartwright, KAV, Robinson, PM, Noah, ND. Does eradication of meningococcal carriage in household contacts prevent secondary cases of meningococcal disease ? B M J 1989; 298: 569–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Meningococcal Disease Surveillance Group. Meningococcal disease secondary attack rate and chemoprophylaxis in the United States, 1974. JAMA 1976; 235: 261–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Wals, P, Hertoghe, L, Borlée-Grimée, I et al. , Meningococcal disease in Belgium. Secondary attack rate among household, day-care nursery and pre-elementary school contacts. J Infect 1981; 3: (Suppl 1): 53–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goldschneider, I, Gotschlich, EC, Artenstein, MS. Human immunity to the meningococcus. I. The role of humoral antibodies. J Exp Med 1969; 129: 1307–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Abbott, JD, Jones, DM, Painter, MJ, Young, SEJ. The epidemiology of meningococcal infections in England and Wales 1912–83. J Infect 1985; 11: 241–57.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fallon, RJ, Brown, WM, Lore, W. Meningococcal infection in Scotland 1972–82. J Hyg 1984; 93: 167–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klein, JO, Feigin, RD, McCracken, GH. Report of the task force on diagnosis and management of meningitis. Pediatrics 1986; 78: 959–82.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ellison, RT III, Kohler, PF, Curd, JG, Judson, FN, Reller, LB. Prevalence of congenital or acquired complement deficiency in patients with sporadic meningococcal disease. N Engl J Med 1983; 308: 913–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blackwell, CC, Jonsdottir, KHanson, M et al. , Non–secretion of ABO antigens predisposing to infection by Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Lancet 1986; ii: 284–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cartwright, KAV, Stuart, JM, Noah, ND. An outbreak of meningococcal disease in Gloucestershire. Lancet 1986; ii: 558–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuart, JM, Cartwright, KAV, Dawson, JA, Rickard, J, Noah, ND. Risk factors for meningococcal disease: a case control study in south west England. Community Med 1988; 2: 139–45.Google Scholar
Haneberg, B, Tonjum, T, Rodahl, K, Gedde-Dahl, T. Factors preceding the onset of meningococcal disease with special emphasis on passive smoking, stressful events, physical fitness, and general symptoms of ill health. NIPH Annals 1983; 6: 169–74.Google Scholar
Foster, MT, Sanders, E, Ginter, M. Epidemiology of sulphonamide resistant meningococcal infections in a civilian population. Am J Epidemiol 1971; 93: 346–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krasinski, K, Nelson, JD, Butler, S, Luby, JP, Kusmiesz, H. Possible association of mycoplasma and viral respiratory infections with bacterial meningitis. Am J Epidemiol 1987: 125: 499–508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, LS, LaForce, FM, Head, JJ, Feeley, JC, Bennett, JV. A simultaneous outbreak of meningococcal and influenza infections. N Engl J Med 1972; 287: 5–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenwood, BM. Meningococcal infection. In: Wetherall, DJ, Ledingham, JGG, Warrell, DA, eds. Oxford textbook of medicine, 2nd ed.Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.Google Scholar
Kahn, HA, Sempos, CT. Statistical methods in epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.Google Scholar
Holmes, TH, Rahe, RH. The social readjustment rating scale. J Psychosomatic Res 1967; 11: 213–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Masuda, M, Holmes, TH. Magnitude estimations of social readjustments. J Psychosomatic Res 1967; 11: 219–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22. Epidemiological graphics, estimation and testing package. Statistics and epidemiology research corporation and Cytel software corporation. (EGRET) 1985–1990; Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.Google Scholar
23. General Household Survey 1986, OPCS Social Survey Division Series GHS No. 16. London: HMSO, 1989.Google Scholar
24.Fourth Report of the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health. London: HMSO, 1988.Google Scholar
25. The Office on Smoking and Health. The health consequences of involuntary smoking: a report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, Maryland, USA: Public Health Service, 1986.Google Scholar
Berg, AT, Shapiro, ED, Capobianco, LA. Group day care and risk of serious infectious illnesses. Am J Epidemiol 1991; 133: 154–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stuart, JM, Cartwright, KAVRobinson, PM, Noah, ND. Effect of smoking on meningococcal carriage. Lancet 1989; ii: 723–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, JC, Bendana, NS, Waterman, SH et al. , Risk factors for carriage of meningococcus in the Los Angeles county men's jail system. Am J Epidemiol 1991; 133: 286–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blackwell, CC, Weir, DMJames, VS et al. , Secretor status, smoking and carriage of Neisseria meningitidis. Epidemiol Infect 1990; 104: 203–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reller, LBMacGregor, RRBeaty, HM. Bactericidal antibody after colonization with Neisseria meningitidis. J Infect Dis 1973; 127: 56–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Glover, JA. Observations of the meningococcus carrier rate and their application to the prevention of cerebrospinal fever. Special report series of the Medical Research Council (London) 1920; 50: 133–65.Google Scholar
Kaiser, AB, Hennekens, CH, Saslan, MS, Hayes, PS, Bennett, JV. Seroepidemiology and chemoprophylaxis of disease due to sulphonamide-resistant Neisseria meningitidis in a civilian population. J Infect Dis 1974; 130: 217–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowry, S. Noise, space and light. BMJ 1989; 299: 1439–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gardner, LU. Studies on the relation of mineral dust to tuberculosis. (1) The relatively early lesions in experimental pneumoconiosis produced by granite inhalation. Am Rev Tub 1920; 4: 734–55.Google Scholar
Gye, WE, Kettle, EH. Silicosis and miners' phthisis. Br J Exp Path 1922; III: 241–51.Google Scholar
Cartwright, KAV, Stuart, JM, Robinson, PM. Meningococcal carriage in close contacts of cases. Epidemiol Infect 1991; 106: 133–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olsen, SF, Djurhus, B, Rasmussen, K et al. , Pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria lactamica in households with infants within areas with high and low incidence of meningococcal disease. Epidemiol Infect 1991; 106: 445–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Noah, N. Epidemicity of meningococcal meningitis in England and Wales: a review. J Infect 1979; 1: 205–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, PS, Hierholzer, J, DeWitt, W et al. , Respiratory viruses and mycoplasma as cofactors for epidemic group A meningococcal meningitis. JAMA 1990; 264: 1271–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cartwright, KAV, Jones, DM, Smith, AJ, Stuart, JM, Kaczmarski, EB, Palmer, SR. Influenza A and meningococcal disease. Lancet 1991; 338: 554–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kilpi, T, Anttila, M, Kallio, MST, Peltola, H. Severity of childhood bacterial meningitis and duration of illness before diagnosis. Lancet 1991; 338: 406–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olcen, P, Kjellander, J, Danielsson, D, Lindquist, BL. Epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis: prevalence and symptoms from the upper respiratory tract in family members to patients with meningococcal disease. Scand J Infect Dis 1981; 13: 105–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Greenwood, BM, Greenwood, AM, Bradley, AK et al. , Factors influencing susceptibility to meningococcal disease during an epidemic in The Gambia, West Africa. J Infect 1987; 14: 167–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyndman, SJ. Housing dampness and health amongst British Bengalis in East London. Soc Sci Med 1990; 30: 131–41.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cohen, S, Williamson, GM. Stress and infectious disease in humans. Psych Bull 1991; 109: 5–25.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jemmott, JB, Locke, SE. Psychosocial factors, immunological mediation and human susceptibility to infectious diseases. How much do we know ? Psych Bull 1984; 85: 78–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, S, Tyrell, DAJ, Smith, AP. Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. N Eng J Med 1991; 325: 606–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Graham, NMH, Douglas, RM, Ryan, P. Stress and acute respiratory infection. Am J Epidemiol 1986; 124: 389–401.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Broadhead, WE, Kaplan, BH, James, SA et al. , The epidemiologic evidence for a relationship between social support and health. Am J Epidemiol 1983; 117: 521–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boyce, WT, Jensen, EW, Cassel, JC, Collier, AM, Smith, AH, Ramey, CT. Influence of life events and family routines on childhood respiratory tract illness. Pediatrics 1977; 60: 609–15.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed