Should children with cough sleep in air-conditioned rooms?

My three-year-old child has been coughing for about 5 days now. Does sleeping in an air-conditioned room make the cough worse? (Thanh Mai, 35 years old, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Coughing is a reflex of the child's body to clear respiratory tract irritants such as dust, mucus, viruses, and bacteria. If your child has respiratory health problems, you can keep them in an air-conditioned room, but maintain a stable temperature of around 26-28 degrees Celsius.

Children should not be kept in air-conditioned rooms with temperatures between 16-22 degrees Celsius. Low temperatures, dry and cold air can easily cause the respiratory mucous membranes to lose moisture, stimulating more severe coughing.

When temperatures drop, blood vessels in the nasal and throat lining constrict, reducing blood supply to the area. This localized immune change creates an opportunity for bacteria and viruses to attack, leading to more severe respiratory infections.

A child's bedroom needs to maintain a stable temperature; avoid sudden temperature changes and significant temperature differences between the bedroom and the outside, as this can easily cause the body to be unable to adapt.

Parents should use a fan when the air conditioner is on, but avoid directing the airflow directly at the child. A humidifier or a bowl of water in the room should be used to maintain air humidity. Give the child water frequently, and turn off the air conditioner 5-10 minutes before taking the child out of the room.

Avoid keeping children in a closed, air-conditioned room all day. Instead, parents can turn on a fan or open the windows to allow fresh air in the room, limiting the spread of viruses and bacteria and helping children adapt to the natural environment, build immunity, and strengthen their resistance.

MSc. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuc Nhu
Ear, Nose and Throat Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

Readers can ask questions about ear, nose, and throat diseases here for doctors to answer.

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