Children who sleep in rooms where mosquito coils are burning could be exposed to smoke and pollutants that may irritate their airways and trigger breathing difficulties, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces, paediatricians have warned.
The specialists explained that children are more vulnerable because their airways are smaller and still developing, while younger children also spend longer hours asleep and may therefore remain exposed to the smoke for extended periods.
They cautioned that although mosquito coils are commonly used to repel mosquitoes, burning them indoors can release particulate matter and other pollutants into the air, making prolonged exposure potentially harmful.
The World Health Organisation notes that household air pollution is associated with serious health risks, particularly among children, and estimates that household air pollution was responsible for 2.9 million deaths globally in 2021, including more than 309,000 deaths among children under five. WHO also states that 44 per cent of pneumonia deaths among children under five are attributable to household air pollution.
However, the WHO figures cover household air pollution from sources such as polluting fuels and technologies used for cooking, heating and lighting and should not be interpreted as deaths caused specifically by mosquito coils.
