Children are more prone to coughing with phlegm or contracting a cold when the weather fluctuates or when the temperature suddenly drops. How about when they’re constantly in air conditioned rooms?
Studies show that lower temperatures are a more favorable environment for some viruses to develop. It also causes the viruses to survive longer, making the throat and nose more susceptible to illnesses like cough and colds.
Like cold temperatures, a family’s living habits may also affect the child’s vulnerability to such illnesses, like habits of eating cold food, swimming or playing with water, staying out in the rain, or taking cold showers. These factors can make it easy for viruses to enter the body and cause a disease.
Using air conditioners incorrectly can lead to a child’s cough and colds. If an air conditioner’s temperature is too low, it could affect a child’s ability to regulate their body temperatures, as they don’t have the natural ability to do so.
If an air conditioning unit hasn’t been cleaned for a long time, it is easy for children to inhale the dust particles that are hiding in its filter. This is the perfect hiding place for bacteria, viruses, and even mold-caused diseases. So, if you haven’t cleaned your air conditioner in a while, this is your sign to call your go-to maintenance guy!
When an air conditioner’s temperature is too high, it could also lead to a child getting sweat stuck in their back, neck, and armpits. This then makes them prone to catching cough and colds, especially if the sweat dries back up on their skin.
The ideal air conditioner temperature that is safe for kids is from 22 to 24 degrees Celsius. While it can get quite hot in the Philippines, putting the air conditioner temperature too low can pose risks on your child. Babies and young children don’t have the capacity to control or regulate their body temperature. It can also make them more prone to viruses that are present in colder environments, and can worsen coughs and colds, which might lead to pneumonia.
The colder an air conditioner is, the faster the air is dried, making the humidity in the room decrease as well. Breathing cold, dry air will dry out your little one’s airways and increase the inflammation in the lining of their throat. This then leads to more phlegm being produced, and will worsen their cough.
Most of the time, babies or young children with colds use their mouths to breathe. This makes them prone to having a dry mouth, throat, and bronchi, especially when they are in air conditioned rooms. While it is okay to put your little one in an air conditioned room, it is best to keep their chests covered with a thin cotton blanket, and to regulate the temperature.
The best environment for a baby is a place where they feel safe, comfortable, and warm. They can still experience all these in an air conditioned room, but here are some things you need to consider:
2.) Cover your little one in a light blanket so that they are protected if the air conditioning gets too cold
4.) Constantly check on your little one while sleeping. A quick check can be touching their head, hands, chest, or feet to make sure they aren’t feeling too cold or too hot
5.) Regularly clean your air conditioner to avoid dust from accumulating in the filter, which could lead to virus build-ups
6.) Keep a humidifier in the room to avoid the air from getting too dry, as this can irritate a baby’s airways
