Context: As per recent study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology-Mahamana Center of Excellence in Climate Change Research, BHU said that Climate Change makes children vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Key findings of the study

• Climate change driven by anthropogenic activities is challenging the gains in public health.
• India, particularly, ranks high in the list of climate-vulnerable countries in the world.
• Globally, it is estimated that children are to bear most of the burden of disease due to climate change.
• The higher risk associated with children is due to the combination of physiological vulnerability as well as the risk of exposure.

Climate parameters like temperature, humidity, rainfall, solar radiation, and wind speed were significantly associated with the infectious diseases.

• Disease like gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, vector-borne diseases, skin diseases in children are common.
• Climate parameters accounted for 9-18% of the total infectious disease cases.
• Non-climate parameters account for the rest.
• Upper respiratory tract infection (mostly cold and flu) and gastrointestinal infections (mainly diarrhea) constitute 78% of the disease burden.
• Due to socio-economic condition and modified climatic conditions, children are also suffering from stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions.