“How effective are air purifiers to prevent allergies for kids?”
I have a small child who is currently 1.5 years old. I have been considering an air purifier for my child's room. But will it make his immune system weaker?
2 Answers
There is no evidence to suggest that HEPA air purifiers can prevent allergic sensitization. For people with already established allergies, those devices may reduce the allergy burden and thus improve their symptoms or make them easier to control. They also can help only with light airborne allergens such as pet dander or pollens; dust and molds being heavy are not going to be very affected by the purifiers.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Monika Korff, MD
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Monika Korff, MD
A HEPA filter can be helpful for removing small particles, such as animal dander or mold spores. It must be purchased to cover the size of the room and must be running 24 hours per day with the door closed. The filter can only be effective in a closed space and if the door is left open it will try to filter the entire house and fail.
