Mosquito coils may trigger breathing disorders in children, say paediatricians

Children who sleep in rooms where mosquito coils burn may inhale smoke and pollutants that irritate their airways, paediatricians have warned. The concern is greatest in poorly ventilated spaces, where the pollutants can remain trapped for longer.

Children face particular risks because their airways are smaller and still developing. Younger children also sleep for longer periods, which can extend their exposure. Doctors said possible symptoms include coughing, noisy breathing and other breathing difficulties.

A study published in CHEST found that burning mosquito coils in a closed bedroom for six hours produced average PM2.5 concentrations of 1,031 microgrammes per cubic metre, with peaks of 1,613. Average carbon monoxide levels reached 6.50 parts per million and peaked at 10.27. The researchers found that better ventilation reduced the concentration of pollutants.

The World Health Organisation links household air pollution to serious health risks and estimated that it caused 2.9 million deaths globally in 2021, including more than 309,000 among children under five. WHO also says household air pollution accounts for 44 percent of pneumonia deaths among children under five. The article cautions that those figures cover pollution from cooking, heating and lighting fuels and technologies, not deaths specifically attributed to mosquito coils.

The issue has particular resonance in Nigeria, which carries a heavy malaria burden. WHO reported that Nigeria accounted for 31.9 percent of malaria deaths in the WHO African Region in 2024, while children under five represented about three-quarters of malaria deaths in the region. A Nigerian study found that three of five tested mosquito-coil brands exceeded the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment and WHO indoor carbon monoxide limit of nine parts per million in different bedroom settings. Dr Abdurrazzaq Alege of the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina said, “When you have an enclosed environment, these chemicals tend to stay longer inside.”

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When you have an enclosed environment, these chemicals tend to stay longer inside.