Abstract

Exposure to tobacco in the uterus is associated with lower fetal growth, a decrease in birth weight and a significant increase in low birth weight births. On the other hand, several studies have indicated that maternal smoking can cause overweight or obesity and a rapid increase in weight in childhood, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in early adulthood. Children exposed to tobacco smoke in intrauterine life, have a hyperreactive autonomic system during the first weeks of life, a disproportionate growth in lung parenchyma and airways (pulmonary dysynaptic growth), a reduction in lung function, an Increased risk in asthma, bronchitis and wheezing in the product. There are associations between maternal smoking and the reduction of infant psychomotor abilities, as well as behavioral problems that include children attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. There has been an increase in the risk of benign neoplasms in childhood (hemangioma and thyroid cyst), but not malignant neoplasms.

Key words: Smoking; pregnancy; fetus; lactation. Source: CeCS; BIREME.