The impact of heat waves on children’s health: a systematic review

Abstract

Young children are thought to be particularly sensitive to heat waves, but relatively less research attention has been paid to this field to date. A systematic review was conducted to elucidate the relationship between heat waves and children's health. Literature published up to August 2012 were identified using the following MeSH terms and keywords: "heatwave", "heat wave", "child health", "morbidity", "hospital admission", "emergency department visit", "family practice", "primary health care", "death" and "mortality". Of the 628 publications identified, 12 met the selection criteria. The existing literature does not consistently suggest that mortality among children increases significantly during heat waves, even though infants were associated with more heat-related deaths. Exposure to heat waves in the perinatal period may pose a threat to children's health. Pediatric diseases or conditions associated with heat waves include renal disease, respiratory disease, electrolyte imbalance and fever. Future research should focus on how to develop a consistent definition of a heat wave from a children's health perspective, identifying the best measure of children's exposure to heat waves, exploring sensitive outcome measures to quantify the impact of heat waves on children, evaluating the possible impacts of heat waves on children's birth outcomes, and understanding the differences in vulnerability to heat waves among children of different ages and from different income countries. Projection of the children's disease burden caused by heat waves under climate change scenarios, and development of effective heat wave mitigation and adaptation strategies that incorporate other child protective health measures, are also strongly recommended.

Impact of Extreme Heat Events on Emergency Department Visits in North Carolina (2007–2011)

“…In contrast, the lowest risk for HRI in the ED was seen among infants and children. Children have not been consistently identified as a vulnerable demographic, suggesting that very particular risk factors and circumstances must be present [31].…”

Extreme temperatures and paediatric emergency department admissions

“…The ideal way of handling extreme temperatures is through primary prevention —for example, health education 64. A heat early warning system can be of great use, especially for those parents whose children have a history of chronic lower respiratory diseases.…”

Warm season temperatures and emergency department visits in Atlanta, Georgia

“…However, there is comparatively less information regarding heat health effects in children, partially due to the fact that population-based data are sometimes restricted to elderly populations by nature (e.g., mortality, cardiovascular outcomes) or by source (e.g., Medicare data on hospitalizations). Children may also have higher susceptibility to adverse health impacts from heat, particularly in relation to morbidity rather than mortality (Bartlett, 2008; Ebi and Paulson, 2007; Kravchenko et al, 2013; Sheffield and Landrigan, 2011; Xu et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2014). Several studies conducted outside the US have found associations between high temperatures or heat waves and various measures of morbidity among children (Checkley et al, 2000; Chou et al, 2010; Hashizume et al, 2007; Kovats et al, 2004; Lam, 2007; Leonardi et al, 2006; Nitschke et al, 2011; Onozuka and Hashizume, 2011; Pudpong and Hajat, 2011; Xu et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2013; Xu et al, 2014).…”

“…Children may also have higher susceptibility to adverse health impacts from heat, particularly in relation to morbidity rather than mortality (Bartlett, 2008; Ebi and Paulson, 2007; Kravchenko et al, 2013; Sheffield and Landrigan, 2011; Xu et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2014). Several studies conducted outside the US have found associations between high temperatures or heat waves and various measures of morbidity among children (Checkley et al, 2000; Chou et al, 2010; Hashizume et al, 2007; Kovats et al, 2004; Lam, 2007; Leonardi et al, 2006; Nitschke et al, 2011; Onozuka and Hashizume, 2011; Pudpong and Hajat, 2011; Xu et al, 2012; Xu et al, 2013; Xu et al, 2014). In the US, assessment of age-stratified associations between ambient temperature and morbidity with evaluation of effects across the full age range, including children, has been conducted with limited geographic coverage (Basu et al, 2012; Fletcher et al, 2012; Green et al, 2010; Lin et al, 2009; Li et al, 2012; Lippmann et al, 2013).…”