If the child is sick all the time. The child often gets sick - the main reasons and what to do, ways and methods to increase immunity. Do I need to treat every sneeze

Often sick are children who have acute respiratory infections (ARI) occur 4 times a year or more.

Sometimes a child gets sick not only often, but also for a long time (more than 10-14 days, one acute respiratory disease). Long-term ill children can also be classified as frequently ill.

Outwardly, acute respiratory infections can be manifested by a runny nose, cough, reddening of the throat, general weakness, and a rise in temperature. Frequently ill children may have one but long-term symptom, such as a persistent cough or cough, persistent nasal discharge, and the temperature may be normal. If the child has a fever all the time, but there are no symptoms of acute respiratory infections, this is often a sign of a chronic infection and requires a detailed medical examination.

List of reasons

If a child is sick often or for a long time, this means that his immunity is weakened. Consider the main factors leading to a weakening of the immune system.

The functions of the immune system begin to form in utero, so intrauterine infection, prematurity or morphofunctional immaturity of the baby can lead to the fact that he will subsequently become sick often.

Another important factor for the formation of immunity is mother's milk, so children who are breastfed rarely get acute respiratory infections, and vice versa, an early transition to artificial mixtures can lead to the fact that already in the first year of life the child will begin to suffer from colds.

In the first year of life or at an older age, as a result of various adverse factors, the baby may develop background conditions that weaken the immune system (intestinal dysbacteriosis, hypovitaminosis, rickets).

A pronounced weakening of the immune system often occurs after serious illnesses or surgical interventions. If a child has been ill with dysentery, salmonellosis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, his immunity is weakened. Viruses greatly weaken the functions of the immune system. After suffering the flu, measles, and other viral diseases, the child has an increased sensitivity to infections and can often become ill.

The immune system is weakened by long-term use of certain drugs, including, for example, immunosuppressants, some anticancer drugs, oral steroid hormones, and most antibiotics.

In the event that the use of these drugs is necessary, it is advisable to take preventive measures to maintain the normal functioning of the immune system.

The presence of chronic diseases in a child also contributes to the weakening of protective mechanisms and can cause frequent illnesses. Such diseases can be chronic sinusitis, tonsillitis, adenoids, sluggish and atypical infections caused by pathogens such as mycoplasma, pneumocystis, chlamydia, yersinia, trichomonads. Often the cause of weakened immunity are worms and Giardia, which are quite difficult to diagnose by feces.

There are congenital immunodeficiency states, including isolated immunodeficiencies, when a child has a disorder in one part of the immune system. Children with such immunodeficiencies can often suffer from some kind of recurrent, that is, recurring, diseases. If a child constantly suffers from the same type of diseases, he should be examined for the existence of congenital immunopathology.

Finally, a proper balanced diet and regimen are of great importance for the normal functioning of the immune system. A child can often and for a long time get sick if his diet lacks vitamins or, for example, there are no animal products or food contains a lot of carbohydrates, but few proteins and fats. If a child is rarely outdoors, leads a sedentary lifestyle, inhales tobacco smoke from smoking adults, this can lead to a weakening of his immunity.

break the circle

Frequently ill children are a social and medical problem. Such children, as a rule, have a broken preventive vaccination schedule, they cannot attend preschool institutions, and at school age they are forced to skip classes. Parents have to periodically stay at home with a sick child, and this is detrimental to their work.

In a frequently ill child, a vicious circle is formed: against the background of a weakened immune system, he falls ill with acute respiratory infections, which, in turn, further weaken the immune system. As a result of increased sensitivity of the body to various infectious agents and a decrease in protective mechanisms, there is a high probability of developing chronic, sluggish infectious and non-infectious diseases (gastritis and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, bronchial asthma, chronic sinusitis, frontal sinusitis ...). The presence of chronic infections can lead to a lag in physical development, allergization.

Frequently ill children may develop various psychological problems and complexes. First of all, it is an inferiority complex, a feeling of self-doubt.

Action algorithm

If the child is often sick, it is necessary to start general strengthening preventive measures: vitamin therapy, balanced nutrition ... It is important to cure chronic diseases, especially the pathology of the ENT organs: chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis), adenoids.

Parents of frequently ill children should consult a doctor (pediatrician, gastroenterologist, immunologist). You can first take tests that will help determine the cause of weakened immunity: feces for dysbacteriosis, blood for immune and interferon status. Depending on the clinical picture of frequently recurring acute respiratory infections, special tests can be taken: tests for the detection of pulmonary forms of chlamydia, mycoplasma and pneumocysts with persistent cough, a throat swab for chronic tonsillitis ...

For the treatment of frequently ill children, medications of non-specific effects (vitamins, adaptogens, biogenic stimulants ...) can be used, as well as therapy with specific drugs aimed at certain parts of the immune system - immunocorrection (immunoglobulins, interferons, thymus preparations).

The common cold is a common name for an infection of the respiratory system of a viral or bacterial origin. In other words, when a child has a runny nose, cough and sneezes often, it is probably a cold. Doctors often suggest that mothers check the color of their baby's mucus. If it changes from watery to yellow or greenish, it is more likely to be a cold.

Why does my child often get colds?

If a child often suffers from colds, this means that the body's defenses are still not enough to protect against adverse environmental conditions.

Coughs, colds, vomiting, and diarrhea – children’s immune systems learn to cope on their own.

Illness is a baby's way of strengthening their immune systems for their future health.

When babies are born, they take the strength of the immune system from their mother. Antibodies are special proteins that fight infection, and babies are born with a lot of them in their blood. These maternal antibodies get off to a good start by helping to fight infections.

When a baby is breastfed, this effect is increased because the mother's milk also contains antibodies that get to the baby and help fight the disease.

As the child grows older, the antibodies that the mother gave die, and the child's body begins to create its own. However, this process takes time. In addition, the child must come into contact with disease-causing organisms in order to create protective factors.

More than 200 different viruses and bacteria cause colds, and the child develops immunity to them one by one. Every time a pathogen enters the body, the child's immune system increases its ability to recognize the pathogen. However, there are so many pathogens around that when the body overcomes one disease, another infection comes. Sometimes it seems that the child is constantly sick with the same ailment, but usually these are several different pathogens.

Unfortunately, it is normal for a child to be sick. The baby gets sick more often than adults, because his immune system is not yet fully functional. In addition, he does not yet have immunity to a variety of viruses and bacteria that cause colds.

Being around other children also increases the risk of catching a cold. The carriers of viruses and bacteria also include older brothers and sisters who bring the infection home from school or kindergarten.

Studies have shown that children who attend educational institutions have more colds, ear infections, runny noses and other respiratory problems than "home" children.

During the cold months, the child often gets sick with colds, as viruses and bacteria spread throughout the country. This is also the time when indoor heating comes on, which dries out the nasal passages and allows cold viruses to flourish.

What is the normal frequency of colds?

It would seem that the norm should be considered as the absence of a disease, but medical statistics have established that the normal development of a child after birth does not exclude a relapse of the disease.

If a child under one year old has had at least 4 colds, he can already be classified as frequently ill. From 1 to 3 years old, these children catch colds 6 times a year. From 3 to 5 years, the frequency of colds decreases to 5 times a year, and then - 4 - 5 acute respiratory infections each year.

An indication of a weakened immune system is the frequency and duration of the disease. If an acute respiratory infection and a cold do not disappear after 2 weeks, then the child's immunity is weakened.

A number of conditions undermine the health and immune system of the child:

Frequent colds can lead to quite serious complications in a child. Although these complications are not very common, it is important to be careful and be aware of them.

Complications that may occur shortly after the child catches a cold:

• there is a risk that babies suffering from the common cold will develop an ear infection. These infections can strike if the bacteria or virus enters the space behind the child's eardrum;
• a cold can lead to wheezing in the lungs, even when the child does not have asthma or other respiratory diseases;
• a cold sometimes leads to sinusitis. Sinus inflammation and infection are common problems;
• other serious complications caused by the common cold include pneumonia, bronchiolitis, croupy and streptococcal pharyngitis.

How to help a child?

It is known that the health of the child will depend on the behavior of the mother during pregnancy and its planning. Timely detection and treatment of existing infections and proper nutrition, good health and successful childbirth have a beneficial effect on the health of the child. This is also important during infancy.

For example, not all parents understand that not only mom's smoking is dangerous for a child, but also volatile substances from tobacco products brought by family members on hair and clothes. But these measures are ideal as preventive measures.

What to do if the child often has colds:

1. Proper nutrition. It is necessary to accustom the child to healthy food, because the right diet allows you to get the required vitamins and minerals. Various snacks are not only harmful in their composition, but also suppress the natural feeling of hunger, forcing the child to give up healthy and healthy food.
2. Organization of living space. A common mistake of mothers is the organization of complete hygienic sterility, which could compete with the conditions of the operating room. But to support the health of the child, wet cleaning, ventilation, and removal of dust collectors are sufficient.
3. Hygiene rules. Developing the habit of washing hands after the street, using the toilet and before eating in a child is the main rule. The sooner a child is taught hygiene habits, the more likely it is that he will begin to observe them without being under parental control.
4. Hardening that a healthy child receives naturally- light drafts, walking barefoot, ice cream and drinks from the refrigerator. But this is a prohibition for a constantly ill child. However, in order to accustom him to natural conditions, it is necessary to spend holidays at sea or in the countryside, and a morning rubdown with cold water does not look so scary.

The child often gets sick in kindergarten

Almost everyone has this problem. When the baby is at home, he almost never gets sick, and as soon as the child goes to kindergarten, an acute respiratory infection (ARI) is diagnosed every 2 weeks.

And this phenomenon depends on a number of reasons:

• stage of adaptation. In many cases, the child often gets sick in kindergarten during the first year of his visit, and regardless of the age of the baby. For most parents, there is hope that the adjustment period will pass, stress will decrease, and permanent sick leave will stop;
• infection from other children. Not wanting to go on sick leave (or not being able to), many parents bring children with primary symptoms of a cold to the group, when the temperature has not yet risen. A runny nose, a slight cough are faithful companions attending an educational institution. Children easily infect each other and get sick more often;
• inappropriate clothing and footwear. Children go to kindergarten every day, except for especially cold days and weekends.

Make sure your child's clothes and shoes are always appropriate for the weather and comfortable for him. Shoes and outerwear should be waterproof and warm, but not hot.

If a child gets sick very often in kindergarten, the only way is to try to strengthen his immunity. Start gradual hardening, ventilate the rooms, enroll the child in the swimming section, follow the principles of healthy nutrition and give vitamins. Regarding the latter, consult with your pediatrician first.

The ideal way to properly adapt to kindergarten is gradual addiction. In the first 2 - 3 months, it is better for a mother or grandmother to take a vacation or work part-time so as not to leave the child in the group for a long time. Gradually increase the time to reduce stress levels.

And when the child is sick, do not rush to go to work and return the child to the group. It is important to wait for an absolute recovery so that there are no relapses or complications.

Why does a child often get angina?

The common cold is, in fact, a big threat.

The lack of proper therapy and the refusal of bed rest are fraught with complications.

The most common type of respiratory disease complication is tonsillitis or, medically, tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsil tissue due to a bacterial and viral infection.

The tonsils are part of the lymphatic system and constitute the body's first line of defense. They are present on the left and right side inside the throat and are two pink growths at the back of the mouth. The tonsils protect the upper respiratory system from pathogens that enter the body through the nose or mouth. However, this makes them vulnerable to infections, leading to tonsillitis.

As soon as the tonsils are affected and inflamed, they become huge, reddish, and covered with a whitish or yellowish coating.

There are two types of tonsillitis:

• chronic (lasts more than three months);
• recurrent (frequent disease, many times a year).

As mentioned earlier, the predominant cause of tonsillitis is an infection of viral or bacterial origin.

1. Viruses that usually lead to angina in children:

• influenza virus;
• adenoviruses;
• parainfluenza viruses;
• herpes simplex virus;
• Epstein-Barr virus.

2. Bacterial infection is the cause of 30% of cases of tonsillitis. Group A streptococci are the main cause.

Some other bacteria that can cause tonsillitis are chlamydia pneumoniae, streptococcus pneumoniae, staphylococcus aureus, and mycoplasma pneumoniae.

In rare cases, tonsillitis is caused by fusobacteria, pathogens of whooping cough, syphilis and gonorrhea.

Tonsillitis is quite contagious and is easily spread from an infected child to other children by airborne droplets and household routes. This infection is mainly spread among young children in schools and among family members at home.

Reasons for a recurrence of the infection include the child's weakened immune system, resistance (resistance) of the bacteria, or having a family member who is a carrier of strep.

One study showed a genetic predisposition to develop recurrent tonsillitis.

3. Dental caries, inflamed gums cause the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth and larynx, which also causes tonsillitis.

4. The infected state of the sinus, maxillary, frontal sinuses quickly provoke inflammation of the tonsils.

5. Due to fungal diseases, bacteria that are difficult to treat accumulate in the body, which reduces resistance and causes frequent recurrence of tonsillitis.

6. Less commonly, inflammation can be caused by trauma. For example, chemical irritation from severe acid reflux.

When a child has frequent sore throats, you must understand that each time he receives a lot of damage. The tonsils are so weakened that they cannot resist germs and protect against infection. As a result, pathogens begin to cling one after another.

A child who often suffers from angina may experience many complications.

Tonsillitis can lead to the following consequences:

• adenoid infection. Adenoids are part of the lymphatic tissue, just like the tonsils. They are located in the back of the nasal cavity. An acute infection of the tonsils can infect the adenoids, causing them to swell, leading to obstructive sleep apnea;
• peritonsillar abscess. When the infection spreads from the tonsils to the surrounding tissue, it results in a pocket filled with pus. If the infection subsequently spreads to the gum, it can cause problems during teething;
• otitis. The pathogen can quickly find its way to the ear from the throat through the Eustachian tube. Here it can affect the tympanic membrane and middle ear, which will cause a whole new set of complications;
• rheumatic fever. If group A streptococci cause tonsillitis and the condition is ignored for a very long time, it can cause rheumatic fever, which is manifested by severe inflammation of various organs of the body;
• poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Streptococcus bacteria can find their way to various internal organs of the body. If the infection enters the kidneys, it causes post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. The blood vessels in the kidneys become inflamed, making the organ ineffective at filtering blood and making urine.

What to do if the child often has a sore throat?

Persistent sore throat can affect nutrition, lifestyle, and even the education and development of a child. Therefore, it is common practice to remove the tonsils if their inflammation creates a regular problem.

However, tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) is not the preferred treatment option. If your child has frequent tonsillitis, there are some ways to prevent it.

1. Frequent hand washing.

Many of the germs that cause tonsillitis are highly contagious. A child can easily pick them up from the air they breathe, and this is often unavoidable. However, the transmission of germs through the hands is another common route that can be prevented. The key to prevention is good hygiene.

Teach your child to wash their hands often with soap and water. Use antibacterial soap whenever possible. Antibacterial hand sanitizers are great when you're on the road. Teach your child to always wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating and after sneezing and coughing.

2. Avoid sharing food and drinks.

Saliva contains germs that can cause infection. Sharing food and drink with an infected person inevitably allows germs to enter their body. Sometimes these germs are airborne and can land on food and drinks, which is inevitable. But the exchange of food and drinks must be excluded. Teach your child not to share food and drink to prevent cross-contamination. It is better to divide or cut the food, pour the drink into cups, but avoid sharing.

3. Minimizing contact with others.

You must try to prevent your baby from getting an infection that will lead to tonsillitis. When a child has tonsillitis, you should minimize his contact with others. This applies to any infection, especially if you know it is highly contagious. Let the child not attend school or kindergarten during the illness, do not come too close to the rest of the family at home, who may become infected. Even a trip to the mall or other walks means that the child can infect others. Let the child rest during this time and keep contact with people to a minimum.

4. Removal of the tonsils.

Tonsillectomy is a very effective way to stop frequent recurrences of tonsillitis. This does not mean that the child will never have a sore throat again. But it will give him a better quality of life. There are some myths and misconceptions about tonsillectomy, but it is a very safe procedure and complications are rare. Surgery is especially necessary if tonsillitis does not respond to antibiotics or if serious complications develop (for example, tonsillar abscess).

5. Gargling with salt water.

This is one of the simple solutions, but also very effective. 1 teaspoon of regular table salt in a 200 ml glass of water makes this method quick and inexpensive.

It should only be used by children who are of an age where rinsing is safe. Remember that while gargling may be helpful, it does not replace medication prescribed by your doctor. Gargling with salt water soothes the throat and may give a child short-term relief from tonsillitis symptoms, but prescription drugs such as antibiotics will kill the bacteria that cause the problem.

Airborne irritants such as cigarette smoke are known to increase a child's chances of developing tonsillitis.

Cigarette smoking should definitely be eliminated from the home, but you also need to be careful with cleaning products and other strong chemicals, the vapor of which can also be an air irritant. Even dry air that doesn't contain the harsh fumes of chemicals can be irritating. A humidifier increases the moisture content of the air and helps with tonsillitis if you live in dry climates.

7. Rest and drink plenty of water.

Good rest for a child with angina can affect the duration and severity of his condition. It is necessary not only to be away from school or kindergarten and sleep all day.

Give your child plenty of fluids. Liquid foods are better tolerated than solid foods, which will chafe the tonsils and irritate them further. Maintain good nutrition to support the immune system to help fight disease along with the medications your child is taking.

8. Be aware of acid reflux.

Acid reflux is a common digestive disease. The acidic contents of the stomach rise up into the esophagus and may reach the throat and nose. Therefore, the acid will irritate the tonsils and even damage them, which increases the chance of infection. Heartburn is a typical symptom of acid reflux, but sometimes it doesn't happen.

Always supervise the child. And if he has acid reflux, change his diet and lifestyle.

Why does a child often get bronchitis?

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the walls of the bronchi - the airways that connect the trachea to the lungs. The wall of the bronchi is thin and produces mucus. It is responsible for protecting the respiratory system.

Bronchitis refers to diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Especially often it affects children from 3 to 8 years old due to immature immunity and structural features of the upper respiratory tract.

Causes of frequent bronchitis

The main cause leading to the development of bronchitis is a viral infection. The pathogen enters the upper respiratory tract, then attacks. This causes inflammation of the lining of the airways.

Other causes of frequent bronchitis:

Bronchitis itself is not contagious. However, the virus (or bacteria) that causes bronchitis in children is contagious. Therefore, the best way to prevent bronchitis in a child is to make sure that he does not become infected with a virus or bacteria.

1. Teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating.
2. Give your child nutritious and healthy food so that his immunity is strong enough to fight off infectious agents.
3. Keep your child away from family members who are sick or have a cold.
4. As soon as your baby is six months old, give him the flu vaccine every year to protect against a similar infection.
5. Do not allow family members to smoke in the home, as passive smoking can lead to chronic illness.
6. If you live in a heavily polluted area, teach your child to wear a face mask.
7. Clean your child's nose and sinuses with a saline nasal spray to remove allergens and pathogens from the mucous membranes and nasal villi.
8. Supplement your child's diet with vitamin C to boost their immune system. Check with your pediatrician to find out the correct dosage for your child, as a high dose of the vitamin can lead to.

Parents should not limit the exposure of the baby to germs and diseases. After all, all children are susceptible to classic childhood illnesses, either through natural infection or vaccination.

Your baby is often sick now because it is the first natural exposure of a childhood illness to him, not because there is something wrong with the immune system.

Building and strengthening his immune system during these early years helps prevent future complications from contracting these diseases later, when they can be more severe.

The best way to keep kids healthy is to follow your doctor's recommended vaccination schedule, wash your hands often, eat right and exercise, and give your little one time to build a healthy immune system.

Parents do not always understand why the child often gets colds. The food is good, he walks outside, sleeps the prescribed number of hours, and the baby will certainly have a runny nose, cough and fever several times a year.

It's hard to imagine life without a cold. ARI is a kind of training of the immune system to fight more serious viral infections. Did the kid catch a cold a couple of times a year (more often in the autumn-winter period)? There is no need to panic. If colds constantly “cling” to the child, read the material: you will figure out what the cause of acute respiratory infections is, how to solve the problem.

Frequently ill children

The problem of colds exists in different countries. The classification takes into account the age of the child, the frequency of diseases throughout the year.

Check if your baby belongs to the category of FIC, which means "Frequently Sick Children":

• from birth to 12 months - ARI diagnosed more than 4 times a year;
• from 1 year to 3 years - acute respiratory infections are noted more than 6 times a year;
• from 4 to 5 years - acute respiratory infections were more than 5 times a year;
• age from 5 years - children suffered more than 4 colds per year.

Advice! If you have determined that ARI occurs too often in a baby, pay attention to tips on how to increase the body's defenses. Do not put off useful activities for a long time, especially if the son or daughter gets sick so often that some cold symptoms disappear, others reappear, and so on in a circle, almost without interruption.

Risk group

Colds often bother children with reduced immunity. Protective forces weaken under the influence of many factors.

Check if the child is at risk. If you have found one or two points that are present in the life of a son or daughter, act immediately, change the situation.

Provoking factors:

• wrong daily routine, sedentary lifestyle, the child rarely walks in the fresh air;
• frequent emotional overload: stress at school, difficulties in relationships with comrades, a period of "buildup" after the holidays;
• long-term treatment with immunosuppressants, steroid hormones, antibiotics;
• intestinal infections transferred at an early age, dysbacteriosis;
• moving to a new climate zone, another time zone;
• recent surgery.

Weak immunity is one of the side effects of breastfeeding. Parents of an "artificial" baby should pay more attention to hardening, vitamin therapy, and proper nutrition.

Causes of frequent colds

Pay attention to the main factors that reduce immunity and body resistance. Often ill children often face complex effects, the harm from which is much greater.

The main causes of common colds in a child:

• secondary immunodeficiency;
• not fully cured colds;
• the constant action of negative factors that reduce the body's defenses;
• congenital disorders of the immune system

Doctors have found that the majority of small patients in the category of IBD have a secondary (acquired) immunodeficiency. Most often, protective forces weaken under the influence of a complex of negative factors.

It is more difficult to correct the situation when the baby lives in conditions of constant stress on the immune system. Unfortunately, one of the reasons for frequent colds is the wrong behavior of adults, ignorance / unwillingness to follow the elementary rules.

Weak foundation for immune defense

In the first years of life, immunity is formed in the intestines. Breast milk is the basis for the development of beneficial microflora. Early attachment to the breast will give the crumbs a drop of a valuable product - colostrum, which contains biologically active substances that "trigger" the mechanism of immunity formation.

Adviсe:

• breastfeed for at least a year, ideally up to a year and a half;
• if the mother has a lack of milk, mix feeding as long as possible, do not immediately switch to infant formula;
• prevent intestinal infections;
• it is impossible to give the baby dishes from the "adult" table early;
• introduce complementary foods gradually to reduce the load on the fragile ventricle and intestines.

Improper nutrition

Common mistakes children and parents make:

• feeding strictly according to the schedule (at the request of the mother), even if the child is not hungry. You can not force the baby to eat if the body resists. Consider the physiological norms for each age, do not overfeed. Do not “push” food if the child says that he is full: you provoke stress, depress the immune system;
• snacks between meals, replacing a full breakfast or dinner with sweets with tea, soda with dyes, preservatives, addiction to fast food;
• reluctance to rinse your mouth after eating. Food debris that accumulates on the teeth and gums is a suitable environment for the development of decay bacteria that provoke caries. Swallowing saliva with harmful bacteria worsens the condition of the stomach, intestines;
• lack of fiber, which enhances peristalsis, preventing the settling of rotting residues on the intestinal walls;
• rare use (insufficient volume), constant heat treatment of vegetables, fruits, destruction of vitamins;
• eating foods that are inappropriate for age. For example, many parents give a baby a year and a half chocolate, although pediatricians recommend refraining from this product for up to three years.

Increased loads

Pay attention to the symptoms of helminthic invasions:

• grinding teeth at night;
• irresistible craving for sweets;
• poor appetite;
• increased sweating in a child;
• weakness, irritability;
• often friction of the anus;
• cough without other cold symptoms.

Learn more about symptoms and treatment for children of all ages.

Instructions for use of Nurofen children's syrup are described on the page.

At the address, read about how to quickly relieve a toothache in a child at home.

How to reduce the frequency of colds

It is important to act correctly, taking into account the age of the child. First, analyze what factors provoke acute respiratory infections, which can be done immediately. It is often necessary to rebuild the way of life, but the changes benefit the often ill child and the rest of the family.

How to proceed:

• prohibit smoking in the apartment, on the balcony;
• regularly ventilate the room, carry out wet cleaning daily;
• throw away toys made from toxic materials, replace them with quality ones;
• walk more taking into account the weather, stop wrapping the baby;
• switch to a healthy diet, avoid foods that provoke allergies;
• check the air humidity, especially when the air conditioner is running and during the heating season. Too humid - buy a dehumidifier, if it is too dry, a humidifier will help;
• give the young patient only those medicines prescribed by the doctor. Self-selection of drugs, especially antibiotics, often reduces immunity, causes side effects;
• often ill children are recommended sports activities in the air, not indoors;
• for colds, give less animal protein, provide light, wholesome food. A great option is chicken broth, buckwheat porridge, herbal teas, dairy products, fruits, vegetables;
• after recovery, give up trips to crowded places, visits to the children's team (for kids). There are no more symptoms of a cold, but the immune defense is still weak. Any contact with viruses, microbes, often hovering in a closed room where there are many children (group, class), will provoke a new round of the disease.

How to boost immunity in a frequently ill child? Methods for strengthening the body:

• hardening. A good effect is given by dousing the legs with cool water, walking on a pebble rug (“health path”), baths with sea water. Tempers swimming, air baths, walks in the fresh air. Start hardening when the baby is completely healthy;
• phytotherapy. Vitamin decoctions are useful. Berries, medicinal herbs will help. Good for health: mint, lemon balm, chamomile, wild rose, mountain ash, viburnum, cranberry;
• fresh air. Paints, household chemicals, varnishes, tobacco smoke worsen air quality and have a negative effect on the respiratory system. Avoid/minimize exposure to harmful substances;
• optimum temperature and humidity. For a good sleep, keep the child's room +20 degrees, humidity - about 65%;
• dosed loads. Listen to the complaints of a young athlete (musician, artist) if the child says that he is very tired in the classroom and in the circle (section, music school). Choose one direction for additional classes, minimize the load to a reasonable level;
• more vitamins, rejection of junk food. A healthy diet is recommended, taking multivitamins in autumn and spring. In the cold season, a vitamin bomb will help. Combine a glass of ground dried apricots, nuts, raisins, pour in the juice of 1 lemon. In the absence of allergies, add ½ cup of honey. Let's take a teaspoon in the morning and in the evening;
• control of bowel activity. Watch for constipation/diarrhea. Improves peristalsis food rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, cereals). Prevent dysbacteriosis, along with antibiotics, give your baby preparations containing beneficial lactobacilli (probiotics). Treat intestinal infections in time, teach children to wash their hands, fruits, berries, vegetables before eating.

Main measures:

• strengthening immunity, taking into account the recommendations from the previous section;
• sufficient intake of vitamins from food and multivitamin complexes;
• reduction in the frequency of stressful situations, a calm atmosphere in the family, kindergarten, school;
• rinsing the mouth, the use of herbal decoctions;
• compliance with hygiene standards, washing hands upon returning home;
• regular airing of the room, clothing for the season;
• physical activity: exercises, visiting sports sections;
• control of chronic pathologies, minimizing the risk of relapses;
• refusal of products that provoke allergies;
• prevention of passive smoking;
• regular visits to the pediatrician;
• when identifying pathologies of various organs - timely, complete treatment, preventing the transition of diseases into a chronic form.

Now you know why children often suffer from colds. Listen to the recommendations of pediatricians, change your lifestyle, reduce the physical and psychological stress for the baby. Daily efforts to strengthen immunity will certainly bear fruit: the frequency of colds will gradually decrease, the baby will become healthier.

Chapter 10

The cause of acute respiratory diseases (ARI) can be more than 300 different microorganisms, specific protection against which a person acquires throughout his life. Frequent recurrences of infections of the upper respiratory tract in some children force local pediatricians to allocate a special group of dispensary observation - "frequently ill children". According to the publications of domestic authors, the incidence of acute respiratory infections in children of preschool and school age should not exceed 4-6 times a year. On the contrary, according to the WHO (World Health Organization), the frequency of ARVI, which is 8 times a year, is normal for children of preschool and primary school age attending childcare facilities.

But parents are little interested in statistical calculations and scientific criteria for making such a diagnosis. Even if a child gets sick 3-4 times a year, this already worries them to a large extent. And when the child started attending kindergarten, they usually complain: “I only went to kindergarten for two or three days, and I already got sick!” As a consolation, we can say: this will continue for one or two winters. Over time, the child's body will adapt, and infections will no longer be so frequent. Here, as it were, there is a learning process in the direction of health stability with an active strengthening of the immune system.

And yet, what is the point? Why do children get sick so often? And can the situation be improved? Undoubtedly, the growing unfavorable ecological situation plays a certain role in the deterioration of the health of the population, including children. But the leading role in reducing immunity, apparently, is played by the deterioration in the quality of nutrition. What does it mean? Currently, modern food products, including vegetables and fruits, lack many vitamins, minerals and other substances necessary for a person. Thus, the quality of nutrition of children and pregnant women is deteriorating. Such an imbalance in the diet leads to a deficiency of vitamins and microelements in the body, which entails a change in the reactivity of the child's body, a decrease in its immunity. The process of reducing immunity is influenced by allergenic environmental factors of the external environment.

According to recent studies, a large deficiency in the body of vitamin B6, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese, unsaturated fatty acids, etc. has been revealed in the body of children. British researchers argue that frequently ill children are, first of all, an indicator of zinc and selenium deficiency. Indeed, scientists have found that zinc deficiency leads to a delay in the growth of the child, memory impairment, and a decrease in appetite. Selenium is known to have anti-inflammatory and pronounced immunomodulatory effects. Thus, the leading causes of the frequent development of colds in children are the deepest violations of mineral metabolism. Parents of such children note frequent, prolonged acute respiratory viral infections, bronchitis, constipation, skin rashes, poor appetite, fatigue, constant pallor (with normal hemoglobin).

The natural question is: what should parents do to improve the health of their child? First of all, it is necessary to add the missing minerals and vitamins to the child's diet. And no matter how negatively you feel about nutritional supplements that are widely advertised now, alas, you cannot do without them at the present stage. It is necessary to give the child multivitamin complexes, which must include calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, selenium, folic acid, zinc, and preferably molybdenum and manganese. There are 2-3 such courses per year. To eliminate zinc deficiency, you can use a food supplement - children's zinc ( Kids zinc). The course is 1 month, after 3-4 months it is desirable to repeat it.

You can buy flaxseed oil (it is now on sale), which contains essential fatty acids and is an excellent antioxidant. Add a teaspoon of this oil to your child daily in any food. A good way to strengthen the child is oatmeal, if possible, from coarse unrefined cereals containing chaff. It is necessary to pour 4-5 tbsp. tablespoons of cereal with water and leave until the morning, and in the morning cook porridge, adding a little salt, until it thickens. In the finished porridge, add a small amount of milk, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey and 1 teaspoon of linseed oil. Regular use of such porridge works wonders. In general, for both a child and an adult, the most useful thing is simple roughage, sufficient labor appropriate to age, and sufficient air (time spent in active games in the air). These ancient wisdoms of mankind, unfortunately, in our "enlightened" age began to be forgotten.

Homeopathic preparations

Natrium carbonicum 3°C should be given as a single dose, repeated after 2–3 weeks. This drug can be given up to 5 to 6 times. Against the background of therapy, the general condition improves, weight gain is noted, the pallor of the skin decreases, sleep and stool normalize. This drug should not be given to children of the first year of life and children with bronchial asthma.

Sepia D6 is shown in 3 grains 2 times a day, the course is 2 months. This drug will help improve the condition of the liver.

Nux vomica D6 will also improve the condition of the liver, it is given 3 grains 2 times a day, the course is 1-2 months.

Anthroposophic paraparata

Roseneusen/Graphite has a strengthening effect on a weakened body. It is taken 3-5 grains 2-3 times a day, in courses of 4 weeks with a two-week break.

Homeopathic organ preparation Thymus GL D6-8 is given to children 3-5 grains 2 times a day in the same courses. It strengthens the immune system well.

Organum quadruplex strengthens a weakened, often ill organism. It is used 3-5 grains 2 times a day, courses for 4 weeks.

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Children's diseases in most cases are inevitable. However, each parent would like to reduce their number or at least prevent the development of complications. How can you help if a child gets sick? How to treat a cold or SARS?

Colds are very common in childhood. Usually, this term also means ordinary SARS. How do these diseases differ, and what can be done as first aid?

SARS is caused by viruses. They can be very different:

• rhinovirus;
• adenovirus;
• parvovirus;
• influenza and parainfluenza;
• respiratory syncytial virus;
• enterovirus and others.

To get sick with SARS, contact with a sick person is necessary. Usually infection occurs by airborne droplets.

A cold is always preceded by hypothermia. It can develop due to being in a draft, walking in too light clothes.

Sometimes, on the contrary, parents dress the child warmly, and he sweats quickly, after which he freezes in wet clothes. Overheating is no less dangerous than hypothermia.

The result is a decrease in the body's defenses and the activation of conditionally pathogenic microflora. Most often, a cold is an exacerbation of chronic diseases, such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis, adenoiditis, otitis, bronchitis.

But sometimes hypothermia facilitates the penetration of the virus into the body, and the usual SARS develops. What can be done if the child starts to get sick?

First aid

Every parent wants their baby to get well as soon as possible. And often they are ready to give the child the most expensive and most effective, in their opinion, drugs. From the pediatrician, many are also waiting for appropriate appointments - medicines for each symptom.

However, polypharmacy (excessive use of drugs) is not only not useful, but most often harmful to the child's body.

When children have the first symptoms of a cold, you need to remember about simple but effective measures and start with them.

First of all, you need to take care of the following points:

• ventilation.
• Humidification of the air in the apartment.
• Proper clothing.
• Moisturizing mucous membranes.
• Plentiful drink.
• Decrease in body temperature.

Airing

The course of the disease and its duration depend on the ambient temperature and its humidity. You should always be more careful with children than with adults. Too warm and dry air contributes to overheating of their body.

This is especially dangerous when the temperature rises. It is also an excellent habitat for pathogenic viruses and bacteria. It is in dry air that they can live for a long time and retain the ability to reproduce.

In central heating conditions, it is not easy to influence the ambient temperature. The only way to achieve cooling and air circulation is through ventilation. It is this method that can quickly and effectively reduce the concentration of microbes in the apartment. Airing will not only facilitate the course of the disease, but also protect other family members from infection.

Many parents, and especially the older generation, are afraid to ventilate the room, because being in a draft is dangerous even for a healthy child. It certainly is. And therefore, when the windows open, the sick baby must be transferred to another room.

How often should you ventilate? The more often this happens, the faster the concentration of pathogenic microbes decreases, and the less likely it is that the disease will proceed with complications.

The optimal temperature in the room when a child is ill ranges from 18 to 20 ° C. And it is better to let it be 17 ° C than 22 ° C.

Moisturizing

Microbes thrive in dry air, but high humidity prevents their normal movement. In addition, humidified air is good for breathing and mucous membranes even outside of illness. It is desirable that the humidity in the child's room be at least 70%. Even figures of 75–80% are preferable to 40–50%.

How to quickly and effectively increase the humidity of the air if the baby starts to get sick? Previously, pediatricians advised hanging wet diapers or towels on batteries. However, with the advent of room humidity meters - hygrometers - it became clear that these measures were ineffective. Humidity, if increased, was insignificant.

The most effective were devices called "humidifiers". Today's market offers parents a wide variety of these devices. They come from different manufacturers and sometimes differ significantly in price. However, even the cheapest humidifier normalizes air humidity faster than wet laundry. These instruments must be used in conjunction with hygrometers.

Also, if the child suddenly fell ill with a cold, it is advisable to wash the floors more often. On the one hand, this helps to humidify the air, and on the other hand, it effectively rids the room of dust in which microbes live.

Proper clothing

Previously, there was an opinion that if a child caught a cold, he should sweat. To do this, they put on warm pajamas and woolen socks, covered him with a thick blanket and gave him tea with raspberries. And the air in the room was warmed with the help of improvised means.

However, in case of illness, these measures are dangerous, especially if the baby has a fever. Warm tight clothing prevents the body from cooling and increases the fever.

But even if a sick child does not have hyperthermia, it is not worth overheating it. The air temperature in the room should be no higher than 20 ° C, and the clothes should correspond to it. Usually it is a home suit or pajamas with long sleeves made of natural fabric. At a temperature of 20 ° C, it can be thin, cotton, and at 17–18 ° C, it can be denser, for example, from a baize. It is better to dress the baby warmer at a lower temperature than to undress at 25-30 ° C.

Moisturizing mucous

Often from modern doctors you can hear recommendations for moisturizing mucous membranes with a cold. The well-known pediatrician Yevgeny Komarovsky speaks about this especially often in his programs and books.

Why is this measure so important? In addition to general immunity, which acts throughout the body, there is also a local one. Saliva and mucous secretions contain special antibodies that prevent pathogenic bacteria and viruses from penetrating deep into the body. They are the first line of defense.

But the less fluid in the mouth and nose, the lower the effectiveness of local immunity. With dry mucous membranes, it practically does not work.

First of all, parents need to prevent the drying of these zones. The child must receive enough liquid. In addition, you should pay attention to his toothpaste. Sometimes the wrong remedy contributes to the development of dry mouth.

However, the most effective measure is to moisten the mucous membranes with saline solutions.

Saline solutions

When a child gets a cold, what is the first thing to do? You need to go to the pharmacy for saline solution. In the future, they should always be at hand.

Ready saline solutions are very convenient to use. They often come in spray form. Some - for example, Salin - are sold in vials as a solution.

The main disadvantage of such drugs is their price. Often it is quite high. However, this does not mean that during the period of illness it is necessary to abandon the moistening of the mucous membranes.

In a pharmacy, you can buy a 0.9% sodium chloride solution, which is saline, and its price is quite affordable for most people.

If there is no opportunity to buy medicines, you can prepare the solution yourself. To do this, a teaspoon of ordinary table salt is dissolved in one liter of warm boiled water. Then the liquid is poured into a vial, you can use a thoroughly washed container from vasoconstrictor drops for this.

The drier the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, the more often they need to be irrigated. It is almost impossible to overdose saline solution.

The most famous ready-made preparations for moisturizing are:

• Humer.
• Lamisol.
• Salin.
• Aquamarine.

Plentiful drink

Drinking plenty of fluids when you have a cold is an excellent detoxifier. In addition, a large amount of warm liquid softens a dry cough and makes it easier to expectorate.

• Warm sweet tea.
• Fruit drinks and compotes at room temperature.
• Table or alkaline water without gas.
• Herbal teas such as chamomile.

Drinking should be just warm, not hot, otherwise it will burn and irritate the inflamed mucous membranes.

It is very important to drink a child during an illness, even if he does not want it too much. Parents should be offered a variety of drinks to choose from. In addition, the drink should be sweetened. For this purpose, you can use sugar or honey.

In case of illness, the energy consumption in the baby's body increases significantly, and glucose is its universal source.

In conditions of sugar deficiency, the metabolism starts in a different way, and ketone bodies begin to accumulate in the blood. Then they are excreted in the urine, as a result of which it acquires the characteristic smell of acetone.

Acetonemia worsens the condition of the child and causes the following symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• weakness, severe lethargy;
• lack of appetite.

Prevention and treatment of acetonemia is a plentiful sweet drink.

Temperature drop

The first symptom of an onset of the disease is often fever. Many parents are wary of hyperthermia and seek to rid the baby of fever as soon as possible. However, this is not always necessary.

An increase in temperature is referred to as a protective reaction. At the same time, interferon is actively produced in the body, which destroys viruses. As soon as hyperthermia stops, the production of this natural protector stops.

It is necessary to reduce the temperature when it worsens the child's condition. This usually happens when the thermometer reads 38.5–39 °C. Some babies do not tolerate fever even at 37.8-38.0 ° C. In this case, the fight against hyperthermia must begin earlier.

Regular airing and cooling of the air contributes to the normalization of body temperature. Warm water baths can also be used. It is important that it is not cool or cold, as this will cause vasospasm and increase hyperthermia.

Do not rub babies with alcohol or vodka - alcohol will easily penetrate the skin and begin to poison the body. Water-vinegar wipes in children are also not welcome.

However, even with a common cold, the temperature can rise very quickly. And in this case, antipyretic drugs can not be dispensed with.

Antipyretic drugs

In childhood, two main drugs are allowed to reduce temperature. These are ibuprofen (Nurofen) and paracetamol (Efferalgan).

Analgin in children is not recommended for use due to the toxic effect on the blood system. But, despite this, it continues to be used in hospitals and ambulance teams when a quick antipyretic effect is required. And yet, this medicine has no place in the home medicine cabinet.

Previously, a drug containing nimesulide was widely used in children. The children's suspension was called "Nise". Nimesulide has established itself as a highly effective antipyretic, however, kidney toxicity observed in some studies during treatment has led to a ban on this medicine in children.

The most dangerous is the previously popular Aspirin. It has been proven that the treatment of colds, SARS and influenza with this remedy for children under 12 years of age is fraught with the development of Reye's syndrome, a formidable and extremely dangerous liver damage. Currently, pediatricians do not use Aspirin at all in their practice.

There are a number of other medicines that should not be used at the onset of a cold in babies.

What other drugs are undesirable when the baby is just starting to get sick? First of all, these are antiviral agents. Currently, there are no etiotropic drugs in the world that would effectively fight SARS. Perhaps the only effective remedy is only oseltamivir (Tamiflu), but the indications for its appointment are quite narrow, and self-medication is unacceptable to them.

Antiallergic medicines for the common cold are also meaningless, although they can often be seen in the prescriptions of some pediatricians.

Often, pharmacists recommend that parents purchase immunostimulants or immunomodulators that will help the child quickly cope with the infection. However, there are currently no really effective drugs of this direction, as well as antiviral ones. Most often, they have only a psychotherapeutic and calming effect on parents.

It should also be remembered that drug intervention in the normal immunity of a child is unacceptable, and the harm from it is much more than good.

At the beginning of a cold, you do not need tablets and cough syrups. It is possible to suppress the cough reflex only with whooping cough, in all other cases it is dangerous.

If you prescribe funds to thin the sputum and its better discharge, this will most likely increase the cough.

Antibiotics

Do you need antibiotics for a cold? These drugs do not act on viruses and such treatment is meaningless. In addition, the uncontrolled prescription of antibiotics in a sick child more than once leads to the development of drug resistance of microbes and suppression of immunity.

The doctor thinks about these medicines if on the fourth day of illness the condition of a small patient only worsens. But even this is not an indication for starting antibiotic therapy. Only the data of an objective examination and laboratory tests or radiography are important.

When the baby gets sick, you can and should help him overcome the infection. However, in most cases, this does not require the appointment of medications.