Abstract

Background: Tobacco consumption is the primary cause for cancers in men and women in India. Second hand smoking also has toxins in the similar concentration affecting children in particular leading to many health-related conditions including neurological disorders. The present study was done with the hypothesis that passive smoking in children causes delay in their reaction time when compared to the children of non-smokers which indicates cognition deficit.

Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study are as follows: (1) Comparison of the visual simple reaction time (VSRT) and visual choice reaction time (VCRT) among the children of chronic smokers and non-smokers and (2) to compare the auditory simple reaction time (ASRT) and auditory choice reaction time (ACRT) among the children of chronic smokers and non-smokers.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. After obtaining necessary permission and consents, 30 children aged between 8 and 14 years with exposure to passive smoking as cases and 30 children of non-smoking parents as controls were included in the study. Audio-visual reaction timer was used.

Results: Student’s “t” test was used for analysis. Mean value of VSRT showed 248.3 ms among controls and 277.7 ms in cases; VCRT among controls was 277.4 ms and 309.1 ms in cases (P < 0.05). Means of ASRT in controls was 213 ms and 250.4 in cases; ACRT in controls was 244 ms and among cases was 272.4 ms (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Significant delay in VSRT, VCRT, and ASRT was seen among the children exposed to tobacco smoke. ACRT also showed delayed response but not statistically significant.

Key words: Audio-visual Reaction Time; Cognition; Passive Smoking; Tobacco Smoke