Impact of Indoor Overheating on Physiological Strain in Children

Communities worldwide are experiencing increasing heat extremes that challenge the limits of human thermoregulation, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children. Compared with adults, children are more susceptible to heat related illness due to less efficient thermoregulatory systems and difficulty recognizing early signs of heat stress. In addition, prolonged heat exposure can adversely affect their mental health, contributing to cognitive decline, heightened anxiety, and irritability. As children spend substantial time in hot environments at school and at home, and as these conditions intensify with climate change, actions to safeguard their health are essential. Yet our understanding of heat exposure effects in children remains incomplete, hindering the development of evidence based strategies to protect them. To address this gap, the investigators aim to evaluate whet