Humidity vs child with only one lung

Posted by lynnea0616 @lynnea0616, Mar 13, 2022

So, I have a child who has one lung. When he was 3 he was diagnosed with a softball size benign tumor in his right lung. He is now 5 and coughs almost daily. I have been traumatized since then and every time he has labored breathing for any length of time, I have taken him into the ER. that made me start questioning ‘being in Illinois with such a high humidity level(average of 70%) has anything to do with him struggling so much.’ I haven’t been able to find answers but I’ve been wanting to move to Arizona and now I feel like it maybe better for his sake. I get a call near daily from school because he’s coughing so bad. But when we visited my father in Arizona, he rarely coughed. I need opinions and advice!

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otter2154 | @otter2154 | Mar 14, 2022

I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer here. Climate affects individuals differently. I have asthma (I hang out here to learn). I know my asthma flares in cold rainy weather, yet abates to almost nonexistent when we’re at the beach in summer. You may want to consider spending a longer period of time in Arizona (maybe a full month) to be sure it brings the positive relief you think it does. If so, then go for it.

Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Mar 14, 2022

@otter2154 reply about climate is true. But I will say that you cannot automatically conclude breathing issues arise from the dryness vs humidity. Your son is at an age where kids can develop environmental allergies because they have been exposed long enough to form sensitivities. He may have been better in Arizona because there was nothing around that he was allergic to. Do you have bets that were left behind when you went visiting? We had to give our parakeets away when our daughter was young and the pediatrician figured out she was allergic to them. There is also the matter of mold - which often is an issue in schools and older homes where HVAC systems are not meticulously maintained - especially problematic in humid areas, but that could be true in AZ as well. Remember, Arizona is not universally dry all the time - it can be very humid in the cities when people are running their sprinkler systems, misters and swimming pools. Air pollution and inversions plague many areas. Tucson in July is stifling, and I have had some of the worst asthma attacks in my life in AZ.

If there is a way to try a year in Arizona without committing to a full-time & permanent move, that might be ideal.
Sue