Question
My child is almost one month old and was hospitalized for pneumonia for ten days. Just got discharged today. The room at home is quite dry, and I’m considering buying a humidifier. Can I use one, doctor? Thank you.
Answer
Using a humidifier correctly will never enhance the possibility of suffering from respiratory diseases. When using a humidifier, it is essential to clean it regularly. Otherwise, mold and other microorganisms in the humidifier can be carried into the air with the mist and then into the human respiratory tract, leading to humidifier pneumonia. Moreover, the humidity of the air is not the higher, the better. In winter, the humidity that people feel comfortable with is around 50%. If the air humidity is too high, people may feel stuffy and have difficulty breathing, so it’s best to keep humidity moderate when using a humidifier.