Indoor use of stoves and firewood can expose children—especially those under five—to lung infections and respiratory diseases, warned Public Health Physician Dr. Rahmat Odesesan. She urged parents to stop this practice and avoid any form of smoke exposure for their children. In an interview with Healthwise, Odesesan, the Medical Officer of Health for Ikorodu Local Government Area in Lagos State, explained that indoor air pollution can lead to pneumonia in children. She advised that any activity emitting smoke should be carried out in an open, well‑ventilated space. “Smoke affects the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia and other lung infections,” she said. “Pneumonia is airborne; once it affects the lungs, they cannot function properly. Any smoke should be avoided indoors, and cooking should be done where ventilation is good.”
Odesesan emphasized that cooking with stoves or firewood indoors concentrates polluted air, endangering both children and mothers. “Cook outside where there is adequate ventilation. Do not pollute the air in a closed room,” she warned. She also urged parents not to delay taking children with pneumonia symptoms to the hospital, especially if they are breathless and may need oxygen. Late presentation, she noted, can be fatal. Symptoms to watch for include difficulty breathing, fever, shock, loss of appetite, and restlessness. “If you notice any changes in your child, take them to the hospital for proper medical evaluation,” she counselled.
The World Health Organization’s 2017 report highlights the broader health implications of household air pollution, noting that smoke‑induced diseases cause 4.3 million deaths annually—more than malaria or tuberculosis. Women and young children bear the greatest burden, with 12 % of deaths due to pneumonia, 34 % from stroke, 26 % from ischemic heart disease, 22 % from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 6 % from lung cancer. Pneumonia, an acute respiratory infection usually caused by viruses or bacteria, is the leading infectious cause of death in children worldwide. Odesesan stressed that pneumonia, a major killer of children under five, can be prevented through good nutrition and hygiene practices.
Research indicates that smoke from firewood or charcoal contributes to serious health problems and 78 000 premature deaths each year. A 2017 PubMed Central study, “Firewood, smoke and respiratory diseases in developing countries—The neglected role of outdoor cooking,” warned that indoor cooking smoke is a leading cause of premature child death, claiming 500 000 lives of children under five annually. Analyzing 41 surveys from 30 developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the study found that outdoor cooking reduces respiratory diseases in children aged zero to four by about nine percent, suggesting that simple behavioral changes can have a substantial health impact.
The researchers highlighted the vulnerability of young children: they often stay with their mothers during cooking and inhale large amounts of particulate emissions, resulting in exposure levels similar to their mothers’. Moreover, children’s still‑growing bodies are more susceptible to acute respiratory infections, leading to a higher death rate in this age group.
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