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The Effect of High and Low Ambient Temperature on Infant Health: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Darshnika Pemi Lakhoo

    (Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa)

  • Helen Abigail Blake

    (Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
    Clinical Effectiveness Unit, Royal College of Surgeons of England, London WC2A 3PA, UK)

  • Matthew Francis Chersich

    (Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa)

  • Britt Nakstad

    (Division Paediatric Adolescent Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
    Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Botswana, Gaborone 4775, Botswana)

  • Sari Kovats

    (Centre for Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

Abstract

Children, and particularly infants, have physiological, anatomic, and social factors that increase vulnerability to temperature extremes. We performed a systematic review to explore the association between acute adverse infant outcomes (children 0–1 years) and exposure to high and low ambient temperatures. MEDLINE (Pubmed), Embase, CINAHL Plus, and Global Health were searched alongside the reference lists of key papers. We included published journal papers in English that assessed adverse infant outcomes related to short-term weather-related temperature exposure. Twenty-six studies met our inclusion criteria. Outcomes assessed included: infant mortality ( n = 9), sudden infant death syndrome ( n = 5), hospital visits or admissions ( n = 5), infectious disease outcomes ( n = 5), and neonatal conditions such as jaundice ( n = 2). Higher temperatures were associated with increased risk of acute infant mortality, hospital admissions, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. Several studies identified low temperature impacts on infant mortality and episodes of respiratory disease. Findings on temperature risks for sudden infant death syndrome were inconsistent. Only five studies were conducted in low- or middle-income countries, and evidence on subpopulations and temperature-sensitive infectious diseases was limited. Public health measures are required to reduce the impacts of heat and cold on infant health.

Suggested Citation

  • Darshnika Pemi Lakhoo & Helen Abigail Blake & Matthew Francis Chersich & Britt Nakstad & Sari Kovats, 2022. "The Effect of High and Low Ambient Temperature on Infant Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:9109-:d:872085
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas Waldhoer & Harald Heinzl, 2017. "Exploring the possible relationship between ambient heat and sudden infant death with data from Vienna, Austria," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(9), pages 1-7, September.
    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    3. Francesco Scalone & Alessandra Samoggia, 2018. "Neonatal mortality, cold weather, and socioeconomic status in two northern Italian rural parishes, 1820–1900," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 39(18), pages 525-560.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hakkan Lai & Jeong Eun Lee & Luke J. Harrington & Annabel Ahuriri-Driscoll & Christina Newport & Annette Bolton & Claire Salter & Susan Morton & Alistair Woodward & Simon Hales, 2024. "Daily Temperatures and Child Hospital Admissions in Aotearoa New Zealand: Case Time Series Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Theodore James Davies & John Rand, 2025. "Pathways Connecting Prenatal Heat Exposure to Development and Health Outcomes – A Review of Current Evidence and Research Gaps," DERG working paper series 25-22, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. Development Economics Research Group (DERG).

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