Skip Navigation

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal The association between climatic factors and childhood illnesses presented to hospital emergency among young children

Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal

Lam LT
2007
International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 17 (1): 8-Jan

There has been an increasing concern about the effect of climatic change on human health in recent years. It has been suggested that young children are particularly at risk due to the reduced regulating mechanism against extreme climatic changes. However, few studies on the associations between climatic factors and childhood illness, specifically among young children, have been found in the literature. Ibis epidemiological study utilized data collected on all young patients aged less than 6 years who presented to an emergency department for a period of two years. Information on climate and outdoor air quality variables was obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology. Data were analysed with various ARIMA time series models for each common childhood illness. Results suggested that maximum daily temperature was a significant risk factor for fever (t = 5.29, p < 0.001) with a regression coefficient of 0.37 (SE = 0.07) and gastroenteritis (t = 2.69, p = 0.007) with a regression coefficient of 0.10 (SE = 0.04). The UV index was also found to be significantly but negatively related to gastroenteritis (t = -2.37, p = 0.018). However, none of the climatic variables were associated with respiratory problems after adjusting for other air quality variables and infectious disease.

Expand Abstract

Resource Description

    Air Pollution, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Temperature
    • Air Pollution, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Temperature: Ground-Level Ozone, Particulate Matter, Other Air Pollution, Specify
      • Ground-Level Ozone, Particulate Matter, Other Air Pollution, Specify: NO2;SO2
      Air Pollution (other)
    • Air Pollution, Meteorological Factor, Precipitation, Solar Radiation, Temperature: Variability
    Urban
    Non-United States
    • Non-United States: Australasia
    Infectious Disease, Respiratory Impact, Other Health Impact, Specify
    • Infectious Disease, Respiratory Impact, Other Health Impact, Specify: Foodborne Disease, Waterborne Disease
      • Foodborne Disease, Waterborne Disease: Other Foodborne Disease, Specify
        • Other Foodborne Disease, Specify: gastroenteritis
        Foodborne Disease (other)
      • Foodborne Disease, Waterborne Disease: Other Waterborne Disease, Specify
        • Other Waterborne Disease, Specify: gastroenteritis
        Waterborne Disease (other)
      Foodborne DiseaseWaterborne Disease
    • Infectious Disease, Respiratory Impact, Other Health Impact, Specify: fever
    Research Article
    Vulnerable Population
    • Vulnerable Population: Children
Back
to Top