Extreme Heat Linked to Rising Health Risks for South African Children

Medical experts in South Africa are warning that increasingly intense heatwaves are posing growing health risks for children, particularly during periods when temperatures climb above 35-39 °C in several regions of the country. Doctors report that hospitals are seeing more cases of dehydration, heat exhaustion and respiratory difficulties among children during prolonged hot spells, while researchers note that children are especially vulnerable because their bodies cannot regulate heat as effectively as adults. Scientists also explain that young children have less ability to cool themselves and may be unable to move away from extreme heat environments, increasing the risk of conditions such as hyperthermia and heatstroke. Experts say rising temperatures linked to climate change are likely to worsen these health risks in the future, particularly for children living in poorly ventilated homes and schools where indoor temperatures can become dangerously high, affecting not only physical health but also concentration, learning and overall wellbeing.