title: Impact of ambient humidity on child health: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Changes in relative humidity, along with other meteorological factors, accompany ongoing climate change and play a significant role in weather-related health outcomes, particularly among children. The purpose of this review is to improve our understanding of the relationship between ambient humidity and child health, and to propose directions for future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, OvidSP and EBSCO host) and review of reference lists, to supplement relevant studies, were conducted in March 2013. All identified records were selected based on explicit inclusion criteria. We extracted data from the included studies using a pre-designed data extraction form, and then performed a quality assessment. Various heterogeneities precluded a formal quantitative meta-analysis, therefore, evidence was compiled using descriptive summaries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of a total of 3797 identified records, 37 papers were selected for inclusion in this review. Among the 37 studies, 35% were focused on allergic diseases and 32% on respiratory system diseases. Quality assessment revealed 78% of the studies had reporting quality scores above 70%, and all findings demonstrated that ambient humidity generally plays an important role in the incidence and prevalence of climate-sensitive diseases among children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With climate change, there is a significant impact of ambient humidity on child health, especially for climate-sensitive infectious diseases, diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory system diseases, and pediatric allergic diseases. However, some inconsistencies in the direction and magnitude of the effects are observed.
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
authors.forename: Jinghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
authors.forename: Yunzong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
authors.forename: Yaogui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, No. 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*