“We Burn It to Protect Them, But Their Developing Lungs Take the Hit”

Children who sleep in rooms where mosquito coils are burning could be exposed to smoke and pollutants that may irritate their airways and trigger breathing difficulties, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces, paediatricians have warned.

Experts say children are more vulnerable because their airways are smaller and still developing, while younger children also spend longer hours asleep, increasing their exposure.

A Hidden Danger in the Bedroom

For millions of Nigerian families, mosquito coils are a nightly necessity, a cheap and accessible defence against malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

But paediatricians are now warning that the very tool used to protect children from one danger may be exposing them to another.

Children who sleep in rooms where mosquito coils are burning could be exposed to smoke and pollutants that may irritate their airways and trigger breathing difficulties, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces, paediatricians have warned.

Why Children Are More Vulnerable

The specialists explained that children are more vulnerable because their airways are smaller and still developing, while younger children also spend longer hours asleep and may therefore remain exposed to the smoke for extended periods.

“When you have an enclosed environment, these chemicals tend to stay longer inside,” said Dr Abdurrazzaq Alege, Head of Paediatrics at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina.

The Consultant Paediatrician noted that exposure could manifest in symptoms such as coughing, noisy breathing and difficulty breathing.

“Typically, all these chemicals enter the airway and cause irritation. This can result in defensive coughing, or you are having difficulty breathing, or having noisy breathing,” he explained.

The Science Behind the Smoke

A study published in the journal CHEST found that burning mosquito coils in a closed bedroom for six hours produced high levels of fine particulate matter, with average PM2.5 concentrations reaching 1,031 microgrammes per cubic metre and peak concentrations of 1,613 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The study also recorded carbon monoxide levels averaging 6.50 parts per million, with peaks of 10.27 parts per million.

A Nigerian study examining carbon monoxide emissions from mosquito coils found that three of five brands tested exceeded the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment and WHO indoor carbon monoxide limit of nine parts per million in different bedroom environments.

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The Malaria Conundrum

The concern is particularly relevant in Nigeria, which bears a significant burden of malaria. The World Health Organisation reported that Nigeria accounted for 31.9 per cent of malaria deaths in the WHO African Region in 2024, while children under five accounted for about three-quarters of malaria deaths in the region.

The World Health Organisation notes that household air pollution is associated with serious health risks, particularly among children, and estimates that household air pollution was responsible for 2.9 million deaths globally in 2021, including more than 309,000 deaths among children under five.

What Parents Can Do

Dr Alege noted that improved ventilation reduced the concentration of pollutants in the room. He advised parents to ensure proper ventilation when using mosquito coils and to consider alternative mosquito control methods, particularly for children with a predisposition to asthma.

“If the child has the predisposition to be asthmatic, that is because the child will now react to these chemicals when it enters the airway,” he cautioned.

A Lesson for Nigerian Youths

This warning is a reminder that the things we use to protect ourselves can sometimes harm us.

Mosquito coils are a common household item, but the smoke they produce can be as dangerous as the disease they are meant to prevent

.For young Nigerians, the lesson is clear: knowledge is the first line of defence. Before using any product, understand its risks.

Protect your health. Seek alternatives. And never forget that what you breathe matters as much as what you eat.