Indoor Air Quality
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Biological Pollutants
Bacteria and viruses like the indoor air, because there they are likely to find a host where they can multiply and cause infectious diseases in the process. Influenza, the common cold, measles, chicken pox and tuberculosis are just some examples.
Approximately 200 different kinds of viruses cause symptoms of the common cold. Several others lead to influenza. Often, the first signs are sneezing and a sore throat, followed by the inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis) and the lungs (bronchitis). Fever generally occurs with influenza only. A third kind of virus (Herpes simplex) attacks the weakened human body and causes a cold sore.
These illnesses are most frequent during the colder months of the year. Whenever the person next to you sneezes or coughs, he or she dislodges tiny droplets that contain a large number of viruses. In summer, the fresh air outdoors rapidly dilutes the density of the viruses per given volume and the risk of catching the germ is lower – not so in winter. During the winter months people tend to spend more time indoors with windows closed to save energy. The virus concentration and number of bacteria is high and with it comes the risk of inhaling a few.
With every exposure to any of the viruses’ strains, the body develops immunity and protects the person against that particular germ when it appears the next time. The children’s immune system, however, hasn’t had much experience with viruses. It is still learning how to recognize the different strains. Until their body develops the relevant immunities, they will be sick more often. Vaccines induce the body to produce such immunities.
