Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is a major risk to the fetus, sometimes leading to spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, and increased perinatal mortality. SmithKline Beecham has undertaken a major initiative to improve the health of women, men, and particularly children in developing countries by donating 4 - 5 billion tablets of the antiparasitic drug albendazole over more than 20 years. It is important that mothers know that they can help their children by breaking the transmission of the parasite and removing their fear of developing this disfiguring and disabling disease that currently affects more than 120 million people in 73 countries. The treatment program also significantly decreases hookworm and other growth-stunting intestinal parasites that commonly occur in children. We also support specific health issue advocacy groups working in the therapeutic areas, described above.
Women tend to respond to antiemetics to a lesser extent than men do.
The physiologic explanation for this is not clear. Kytril, indicated for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of emetogenic chemotherapy, is highly effective in women and has allowed women to tolerate and complete difficult courses of chemotherapy.