Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 16 6 2017 12 23 488 500 EN Souheil Hallit Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon AND Faculty of Pharmacy, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon AND Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University, Kaslik, Lebanon AND Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, Jal Eddib, Lebanon AND Occupational Health Environment Research Team, U1219 BPH Bordeaux Population Health  Research, Center Inserm Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France Chantal Raherison Occupational Health Environment Research Team, U1219 BPH Bordeaux Population Health Research Center Inserm Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France AND Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France Mirna Waked Faculty of Medicine, Balamand University, Beirut, Lebanon Pascale Salameh Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon AND Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon 2017 05 23 2017 07 23 The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between caregiver-reported use of medications, alcohol, cigarette and/or waterpipe (WP), and exposure to pesticides/detergents during pregnancy with childhood-onset asthma. The study design consisted of a case-control study, conducted between December 2015 and April 2016, recruited 1503 children, aged between 3-16 years old. A questionnaire assessed the sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education level of both parents), the family history of asthma, and other known risk factors of asthma (heating system at home, child history of recurrent otitis, humidity in the house, child went to a daycare, smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy, exposure to pesticides and detergents). The multivariate analysis showed that children living in North and South Lebanon and the children living in areas where pesticides are frequently used had an increased risk of asthma (ORa=1.625, CI 1.034-2.554, p=0.035, ORa=13.65, CI 3.698-50.385; p<0.001 and ORa=3.307, CI 1.848-5.918, p<0.001 respectively). Smoking WP during pregnancy and cigarette during lactation would increase the risk of asthma in children (ORa=6.11; CI 1.244-30.008; p=0.026 and ORa=3.44; CI 1.024-11.554; p=0.046 respectively). We conclude that asthma may originate from the environmental exposure to toxics such as pesticides and tobacco (cigarettes and WP) or to alcohol and prescribed medications during pregnancy and lactation. Spreading awareness by health professionals about these preventable causes can help educate the parents and children to prevent asthma and its exacerbation.  https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/1478 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/1478/779