Acute respiratory illness in the community: effect of family composition, smoking, and chronic symptoms.

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Abstract
Respiratory illness and infection was studied in the community of Tecumseh, Michigan, USA, during a 6 yr period. Acute illness was ascertained by making weekly telephone calls, and prevalent agents were identified by microbial isolation. Infection rates were determined serologically using blood specimens collected routinely at 6 mo. intervals from those reported to be ill. Illness rates were higher in the youngest children of families up to the age of 3 yr than for the oldest children of the same ages. Above the age of 3, the pattern was reversed. Among the adults, rates of illness were related to the presence and to the age of children in the home. Throughout this comparison, women were more likely to be ill than men in the same groups. Smoking in itself was not related to increased acute respiratory illnesses, but persons with symptoms of chronic bronchitis had higher illness rates independently of whether they smoked.

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