Maintenance and cleaning of air conditioners or air conditioning systems, which are used to cool off in summer and to warm up in winter, are very important. Experts point out that air conditioners that are not maintained and cleaned provide a suitable breeding environment for pneumonia-causing bacteria known as Legionnaires' disease.
Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Specialist Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran stated that air conditioners cause important health problems and made important warnings.
Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said, "Are air conditioners, which come to our rescue when we are overwhelmed by the heat in summer and cold in winter, friend or foe? While air conditioners are recommended to create a clean air and allergen-free environment in allergic diseases and some other specific cases, it is known that air conditioners create a basis for many other diseases."
Provides a suitable environment for fungus
Prof. Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said the following: "In addition to chronic headaches and chronic fatigue, studies have shown that people working in environments where air conditioners operate all day long are constantly exposed to respiratory tract irritation, which causes colds, pneumonia and some other diseases. Dry skin, heat intolerance and increased severity of chronic diseases are also potential hazards of air conditioners. Structurally, ventilation systems are also known to create a favorable environment for the growth of many types of fungi. In a study, eight types of mold were detected in the ventilation systems of 22 out of 25 cars tested."
Beware of pneumonia!
Stating that pneumonia is an infectious disease that can be explained as inflammation of the lung tissue with different microbial agents such as bacteria-fungus-virus, Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said, "In general, the disease; It starts with high fever, cough, sweating, weakness, starting with chills, chills. Sputum production accompanies these complaints in the following days. While people with a strong immune system overcome the disease more easily with supportive treatment, the disease is severe in those who already have respiratory diseases such as asthma and in children and the elderly with a weakened immune system."
Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran stated that the most basic way to protect against this disease, the source of which is microbial, is to avoid contact with the sick person and the germs he spreads to the environment with cough-sneezing, as in other microbial infectious diseases, and said, "However, protection becomes difficult in many cases where common areas have to be used and in some cases where the microbe spreads from the environment rather than from the person. Especially air conditioners, which are our helpers in air cleanliness and quality, can create a ground for the microbe to live."
Air conditioner maintenance and cleaning should not be neglected
Stating that air conditioners or air conditioning systems are also a suitable breeding environment for pneumonia-causing bacteria known as Legionnaires' disease, which can be very severe and cause death, Dr. Yakup Hakan Başaran said:
"Serious measures have been taken by the Ministry of Health to prevent the spread of this disease and the causative bacteria, especially in buildings with central air conditioning systems, and strict follow-up continues. So it is useful to follow simple control measures for the harmless use of this useful invention. First of all, let's take a look at the working system of the air conditioner we use at home. In water reservoir cooling systems, air conditioner maintenance, cleaning and disinfection, cleaning or replacement of filters are required at the beginning and end of summer. The same is true for portable air conditioners operating with a water system. Maintenance and cleaning is sufficient for gas air conditioning systems called split systems. By paying attention to these precautions and avoiding overuse, it is possible to get maximum benefit from the comfort of air conditioners."