World on Fire

Abstract

Climate change is accelerating, with rising global temperatures leading to more frequent and severe heatwaves. This manuscript aims to outline current knowledge on the impact of heat, both direct and indirect, on child health, from the prenatal period to adolescence. Children represent a particularly vulnerable group due to their physiology, developmental stage, and dependence on adults.

Direct health effects include dehydration, heat exhaustion and life-threatening heatstroke, while indirect consequences range from increased asthma exacerbations and infectious diseases to reduced learning capacity and heightened exposure to air pollution. Pregnant women exposed to extreme heat are at higher risk of adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies. In addition to physical illnesses, climate change can have long-term implications for neurodevelopment and the development of chronic diseases.

Paediatricians play a key role in prevention, adaptation and advocacy, both at the clinical and policy levels. Establishing heat emergency protocols, integrating environmental health education in paediatric training, and supporting mitigation strategies are essential to safeguard future generations. Addressing the paediatric dimension of climate change is not only our medical duty but also a societal imperative. In this review we aim to oversee the consequences of heat on the paediatric population in Belgium.