Air Pollution And Paediatric Immunity: Why Kids Fall Sick More Often In High-AQI Exposure

Air pollution has become a common problem in many cities today. Smoggy mornings and high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels are no longer rare. During such times, many parents notice that their children start falling sick more often. Cough, cold, sore throat, fever, breathing trouble, and wheezing become frequent issues. This is because polluted air affects a child’s growing body more than it affects adults.

Since children’s bodies are still developing, they are especially sensitive to pollution. The lungs of a child are not yet developed, and their immune system is not fully mature. Dr Pradeep Suryawanshi, Director – Neonatology & Paediatrics, Sahyadri Hospitals MomStory, Pune, says, “Children tend to have a higher respiratory rate compared to adults;

therefore, they take in more pollutants relative to their body weight. Along with air, they also breathe in more harmful pollutants. These tiny particles enter the nose and lungs easily and cause irritation. With repeated exposure, this irritation turns into swelling and weakness in the airways.”

The immune system is the body’s natural defence against infections. And during the development phase, this system is still learning how to fight viruses and bacteria. Polluted air makes this job difficult. The nose and lungs normally have a protective layer that traps dust and germs. Pollution damages this protective lining. When this barrier becomes weak, germs can enter the body easily, leading to frequent infections.

Pollution also affects the cells that help fight illness. These cells may not work properly when the child is exposed to polluted air regularly. As a result, common illnesses such as coughs and colds take longer to heal. Many children fall sick again soon after recovery, especially during days when pollution levels remain high.

Children who already have asthma, allergies, or sensitive lungs are at a higher risk. Poor air quality can trigger asthma attacks, increase wheezing, and cause chest tightness. Difficulty in breathing, runny nose, and sneezing, which are all too common symptoms of allergies, can be aggravated by excessive exposure to polluted air. Some children who have always been healthy will now develop breathing difficulties as a result of the continuously polluted air that they breathe every day. Infants and younger children may also get ear infections and chest infections more often.

Another reason children are more exposed to pollution is their daily routine. They spend a lot of time outdoors, like going to school, playing, or travelling. On high-AQI days, this increases their contact with polluted air. Even staying indoors does not give full protection, as outdoor pollution can enter homes and classrooms through windows, doors, and ventilation systems.

Knowing about the levels of AQI, can help parents make informed decisions when they plan outdoor activities for their children. If children are able to play outdoors on days when the AQI is rated as being unhealthy, then that activity should be limited. Some precautions parents can take would be to keep windows closed during the times when the AQI level is at its highest, try to use air purifiers when able, and teach children to wash their hands and face after coming inside from playing outdoors. It is also critical to teach children to eat a healthy diet, get enough sleep, and receive regular vaccinations to boost their immune system.

The quality of the air that a child breathes will directly affect the child’s growth and development. While the quality of the air may continue to decline for a while longer, the knowledge about it through research and adherence to small behaviours daily will help reduce the number of times that children will be sick because the air that they breathe is dirty and unhealthy.