The impact of environmental changes on infectious diseases among children in North America.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a present and accelerating force reshaping the epidemiology of infectious diseases in North America and elsewhere. Rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events are impacting the geographic distribution of pathogens and their vectors. Understanding these environmental influences on infectious diseases in children is essential for equipping healthcare providers to deliver competent care in the era of climate change.

Recent findings: The northward spread of vector-borne diseases, warming waters and soils, and disease outbreaks following extreme weather events highlight the complex and multifactorial ways through which the environment influences the spread of infectious diseases.

Summary: Continuing medical education and training on the evolving epidemiology of climate-sensitive diseases is critical for clinicians to address emerging health threats effectively. We advocate for more equitable funding and resource allocation to support innovative pediatric research on climate change and infectious diseases in the United States and other countries in North America.