Extreme heat is increasingly common in Australia and around the world, and besides making us uncomfortable, it can harm our health. For example, exposure to extreme heat can exacerbate existing medical conditions, or cause problems, such as heat stroke.

Due to a combination of physiology and behavior, children are potentially more vulnerable to severe heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

But these are not the only heat-related health issues children might experience on a very hot day. In a new study, we looked at emergency department (ED) visits and unplanned hospital admissions among children in New South Wales on heatwave days.

We found a significant increase in children attending hospital compared to milder days — with a range of health issues.

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