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: Humidifiers: to use them or not?
DEAR DR.PAUL: A friend recently told me that having a vaporizer
on all night while my two-year-old is sick is not a good idea.
How do you feel about this and also about menthol used in the
vaporizer? Thanks.
PEDIATRICIAN DR.PAUL Answers: I often get questions
about vaporizers. In fact, it's one of the most common questions
from parents.
The answer, I'm afraid, is not very clear cut, but let me try
to explain. We need to have a certain level of humidity in the
air we breathe in through our nose. The "normal" or "ideal"
indoor humidity level is about 40-45%. Humidity levels over
45% can indeed be harmful, both directly and indirectly.
In asthmatic children, for example, high humidity may make the
asthma symptoms worse. Indirectly, high humidity affects our
health adversely by promoting mould growth and dust mites. Dust
mites are microscopic insects that live in dust found in upholstered
furniture and they thrive on high humidity. Dust mites are considered
to be very important irritants in asthma and in chronic nasal
allergies.
Moulds grow in the presence of high humidity and have been associated
with causing or worsening asthma and other respiratory symptoms
as well as other health problems.
How can you determine what the level of humidity is in your
house? Special "hygrometers", that look like thermometers, are
readily available at any hardware or department store. These
instruments can help parents monitor the humidity level at home.
Under normal conditions, and if the humidity levels are normal,
a humidifier is not necessary. On the other hand, in the presence
of high humidity (over 45%), and especially if a child has chronic
asthma and/or respiratory allergies, the humidity needs to be
decreased by using a dehumidifier. Low humidity is not good
either as it dries up our respiratory tract, including the nose.
In the case of low humidity, a central humidifier may help to
bring up the humidity and maintain it at normal levels.
Still following me? Well, the issue can get even more complicated.
We know that one of the treatments of a cold is humidity because
it helps the congested child breathe easier. So, in this case,
extra humidification for a short time may help, even if the
normal humidity level in the room is normal. However, in asthmatic
children, I do not generally recommend extra humidification
even during a cold. Although humidifiers may help a child with
a cold, they should not routinely be used in asthmatic children,
unless discussed with your doctor.
Presuming that one uses a humidifier, there are several issues:
One is cold mist versus warm? I prefer cold, as it is safer.
Warm mists may accidentally spill and scald a child. Next, vaporizer
versus humidifier? In general, I do not think there is much
difference between the two.
What about adding menthol (lotion or rub) to vaporizers? I do
not recommend this as some studies have suggested that the associated
fumes may be potentially toxic. On a final note, a potential
problem relates to not cleaning the filters frequently or adequately.
Moisture left in the humidifier (or vaporizer) can harbour mould
and bacteria. An improperly maintained or unclean humidifier
may be actually spreading germs and harming a child.
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designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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