Passive smoking and middle ear problems in Kansas public school children.

Survey data from parents of Kansas school children identified as having middle ear problems were compared to data obtained from parents of children who passed their school's hearing screening tests. The results of the investigation revealed that there were no differences between the two groups of children for the presence of smoking, the amount and type of smoking, and the number of smokers in the home. Exposure to cigarette smoke in the home apparently was not a risk factor for middle ear problems in children.