What to do if your child often gets colds. Why do some children get sick often?

All children get sick, and all parents are very worried about this. Adults pay almost no attention to their illnesses, but children’s illnesses immediately become a cause of increased concern. In fact, this is normal, because we do not live in sterile conditions, and the body reacts this way to environment. But what to do if the child is often sick? The answer lies not on the surface, but in the very depths - in the reason for this frequent morbidity.

As already mentioned, all children get sick. The only question is how often and where is the line between normal seasonal reactivity of the body and pathological morbidity.

Pediatricians generally believe that the normal incidence of illness in children under 12 months is no more than 4 times a year. Between the ages of three and six years, it ranges from 3 to 6 illnesses per year. For school-age children – 2–3 times. This is due to the child being in a close group. IN kindergarten, in real conditions, the teacher is not able to make sure that everyone is well dressed and does not pick up anything from the floor.

Just like modern parents do not always have the opportunity to stay at home with sick children and send them, with colds, to kindergartens and schools, where they infect other children. This is especially noticeable in kindergarten groups. If one child gets sick, within a couple of days everyone gets sick. Thus, if a child preschool age gets sick more than six times a year, and a school-age child more than three or four times - this is a sign of frequent illness and a reason to pay attention to the state of your child’s immunity.

In addition, it is one thing if a child often suffers simply from viral respiratory diseases, and quite another if almost every respiratory infection is complicated, for example, by a sore throat. The difference is that classic ARVI is caused by a virus and requires intensive antiviral therapy. A sore throat (in medicine - acute tonsillitis) is a complication in which a bacterial infection occurs against the background of a weakened immune system by the virus. And she will not be cured without antibiotics.

The main question, if a child often suffers from sore throat, is why? A bacterial infection can “attach” only to severely damaged tonsils, which are loose and inflamed, with enlarged lacunae - an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. Sore throat is difficult to treat, and often parents stop treatment early, leaving traces of inflammation that make acute sore throat a chronic process. The most serious cause of frequent sore throats in children is improper treatment of viral infections, bacterial infections and weakened immunity. We will talk about the reasons for weakened immunity below.

What are the causes of regular illnesses?

There can be many reasons why a child may often suffer from colds and sore throats. The main one, as mentioned above, is the child’s presence in a children’s group. It is worth noting that many reasons, including this one, should not be eliminated. It is better to influence other factors and significantly reduce the risks of the disease.

Among the reasons why a child often gets sick, you need to pay attention to the following.

Lack of required vaccinations for the child . Unfortunately, many parents deliberately refuse vaccination. Word of mouth broadcasts about the danger, and that after vaccinations children allegedly get sick even more. It is not true. A vaccine is a greatly weakened or killed pathogen that provokes the formation of antibodies to a specific disease. These antibodies provide immunity that protects the child in the future. There are only two ways to form antibodies - vaccination (in which the child will simply have a fever for a couple of days, but will not get sick) or the disease in its entirety. And it is better to give the child immunity to the same measles, and protect him from the disease itself in the future.

Chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract. No matter what pharmacists say, any sinusitis is a chronic disease. If a child has been diagnosed with some type of sinusitis, there is a very high chance that it will occur again. A chronic inflammatory process on the mucous membranes greatly weakens their protective properties. And the more often relapses (repeated diseases) occur, the stronger and more irreversible the mucosal defects become and the lower the immunity.

Lack of additional immune strengthening. All children, without exception, have a weaker immune system than any adult. Therefore, it needs to be further strengthened. Old, unforgotten methods and modern developments in medicine and pharmaceuticals can significantly reduce the incidence of illness in children even during dangerous periods - autumn and spring.

Tendency to allergies. The first thing to remember is the hereditary nature of any allergy. That is, if one of the parents has a severe allergy in any of its variants, there is a very high probability that the child will also have it. Children with a tendency to allergic reactions get sick much more often. Therefore, any treatment for them should include antihistamines (anti-allergic) drugs.

Frequent stay in places with large crowds of people . This does not mean that it is necessary to limit the child’s communication. But still, it is worth considering that visiting such places by children under 10 years of age significantly increases the risk of disease. Prevention is necessary.

Congenital immunodeficiency . Bad habits of the mother before and during pregnancy, the influence of negative environmental factors, not proper nutrition mothers during feeding, nutritional deficiency, birth defects, prematurity - all these are causes of congenital immunodeficiency in a child.

Refusal of breastfeeding. Mother's milk is the best immunostimulant; neither man nor nature has yet come up with anything more effective. Breast milk has an absolutely individual composition, that is, milk from a particular mother ideally meets the needs of her child. It contains substances that cannot be recreated artificially and placed in mixtures for baby food. Therefore, breast milk is irreplaceable. In addition, studies show that children who receive breast milk all the time they need get sick 3-4 times less and have good health.

As you can see, it is quite possible to take control of all the causes and thereby reduce the risks of the disease.

What to do?

First of all, it is necessary to undergo a series of examinations to determine the cause, which includes consultations with the following specialists:

All of these specialists can and most likely will prescribe a series of tests and studies, including:

general analysis blood and urine;
blood biochemistry;
coprogram and stool analysis for helminth eggs;
immunogram;
tests to determine sensitivity to allergens;
blood test for HIV/AIDS - there is no need to ignore it or panic, this is a standard procedure;
fluorogram;
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

When the cause is determined, the doctor will give specific instructions to eliminate the causes. You should do the following on your own, no matter how often the child gets sick:

If possible, you should take your child out of preschool for the fall and spring periods. You can socialize him yourself, as well as teach him important skills. And contacts with other children in confined spaces will be significantly reduced. These contacts are acceptable and even desirable in the fresh air, where there is good ventilation.

Hardening . For children, hardening does not mean dousing them with cold water and walking in the snow. But playing sports, changing places, and swimming in the summer can significantly strengthen the baby’s immunity and prevent respiratory diseases.

Correct treatment of acute respiratory infections. The doctor prescribes treatment not with the goal of increasing the welfare of pharmaceutical companies, but with the goal of curing the child. If the prescribed treatment turns out to be prohibitively expensive, contact your pediatrician again and ask if there are cheaper analogues or substitutes. In any case, it is important to remember that treatment of any acute respiratory infection should last at least five days, and during this time the child should not attend children’s groups, so as not to infect other children and not complicate the course of his illness. Also, you should not resort to self-medication and interrupt treatment before recovery.

Prevention . Today there are a number of drugs that stimulate the development of natural immunity in children. They are divided into interferons of natural origin and artificial. Natural interferons are more effective because they are completely compatible with the body. It will also not be superfluous to periodically take courses of poly- and monovitamins. For a detailed regimen of taking vitamins, you should contact your pediatrician.

Don't refuse vaccinations . If you have concerns about the quality of vaccines, consult and purchase the vaccines yourself. Try to keep up with the recommended schedule. Also, do not forget about preventive seasonal flu vaccinations. They should be done in the middle and end of summer, so that antibodies have time to develop by autumn.

Correct mode . A child’s food should be tasty, high in calories (not synonymous with fat), balanced and fortified. Don't forget that the usual benefits of lemon tea disappear as soon as you pour hot water over the lemon. The same applies to currant compotes and beets in borscht. Vitamin C breaks down at temperatures above 70 degrees.

There is no need to force your child to eat. The body itself knows when it is hungry. Children's is no exception. It is necessary to include as many fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet as possible. To get specific recommendations for your child, the mother should contact a nutritionist.

The child should sleep at least 7 hours a day at night. Young children have their own sleep patterns. It is individual and also depends on the needs of each individual baby. The right mattress, pillow, comfortable temperature regime created by the blanket improves the quality of sleep. Warm milk with a little honey will help you fall asleep faster. To avoid overstimulation before bedtime, you should not allow children to watch TV or play on the computer in the last 2-3 hours before going to bed. But moderate physical activity, on the contrary, is encouraged.

Drinking water. The child should drink a lot. In this case, portions of liquid should be limited to one glass of liquid every 2–3 hours. Urination should be regular.

Fresh air . Systematic ventilation, good room ventilation and regular walks improve lung function. In addition, it is important to maintain the correct temperature and water conditions in the room. The ideal temperature for a children's room is 18–22 degrees. The air in the room should be moist and cool. Warm, humid air promotes the growth of bacteria, while dry air dries out the mucous membranes, causing a runny nose and deterioration of the body's defenses.

Timely contact with a specialist . Regardless of the level of trust in medicine, children’s illnesses are entirely the responsibility of the parents. You shouldn’t be lazy looking for a good pediatrician, you shouldn’t neglect consultations with other specialists and put off treatment. Diseases tend to pile on top of each other if neglected. It is necessary to achieve high-quality diagnosis and treatment and insist on monitoring the healing process.

On average, such children suffer from acute respiratory infections 4 times a year. There is another indicator - they get sick not so often, but for a long time. Sometimes a cold can last for two weeks or more.

The situation is dangerous because against the background of acute respiratory infections, immunity decreases, colds and flu cause complications, and chronic diseases appear. And this is much more serious.

Why does a child often get colds?

Before talking about the reasons, you should accurately determine whether your baby belongs to the group of frequently ill children.

Pediatricians adhere to the following classification, which you can check with right now. They include:

How bad is it that a child often gets colds?

infant up to a year if within 12 months he has had acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections 4 times or more;
small child from 1 to 3 years if he was sick more than 7 times a year;
children from 3 to 5 years old– in case of relapse more than 6 times;
aged 5 to 6 years– more than 5 times;
over 6 years old, schoolchildren junior classes and teenagers– 4 times or more.

According to statistics, every 4th child under three years of age, especially in large cities, belongs to the category of frequently ill children.

The main reason for frequent colds is weakened immunity. But there are many factors contributing to this:

Factor	Characteristic
Developmental pathologies in the womb	The baby’s immune system suffers in the event of intrauterine infection, birth prematurely or with signs of morphofunctional immaturity
Artificial feeding	The baby does not receive the mother's immunobodies contained in breast milk. For up to six months they must protect him from any disease;
Birth injuries, hypoxia, accompanied by weakening of brain functions	Leads to metabolic disorders, blood clotting and insufficient production of immune antibodies
Transferred to early age surgeries or infectious diseases	salmonellosis, pneumonia, dysentery, follicular or purulent tonsillitis. Diseases caused by measles, rubella, mumps, etc. viruses greatly weaken the baby’s immunity;
Untreated nasopharyngeal diseases	Foci of infection remain in the body
Thymus gland dysfunction	Occurs due to malfunctions of the endocrine system. The child will be constantly sick, since the thymus gland does not produce in sufficient quantities the main defenders against viruses and infections - T-lymphocytes;
Malfunctions of the adrenal cortex	Lead to a decrease in the synthesis of corticosteroid hormones. The main symptom is darkening skin on the child's elbows and knees. This condition causes intestinal diseases, such as: dysbacteriosis, giardiasis, helminthic infestation, enterocolitis. And again the baby’s immunity decreases;
Immunological disorders associated with: production of insufficient amounts of immunoglobulin A, excess amount of immunoglobulin E	In this case, the baby suffers not only from frequent colds, but also from more serious pathologies: allergies, bronchial asthma, pustular lesions of the skin and mucous membranes
Hereditary low immunity	When the functions of one of the links in the immune chain are impaired, the child may often suffer from the same disease, including colds. In this case, the baby must be examined in specialized medical centers.
Frequently recurring stressful situations or psychological trauma	May lead to weakened immunity
Unfavorable environmental conditions	Bad influence harmful substances to the primary (at the gene level) and secondary state of immunodeficiency
Unbalanced diet, protein deficiency	They weaken the immune system, as do daily intake of soda, sweets, sausages or sausages. Until the age of 5 years, the baby’s diet should consist mainly of protein foods. Include dairy products, eggs, chicken, fish, cereals, vegetables and fruits in your diet.

Other factors:

rickets in infancy, intestinal dysbiosis, lack of essential vitamins in the body, hypovitaminosis;
frequent and long-term use of antibiotics, steroid hormones, immunomodulators, and other medications;
metabolic disorders in the body;
insufficient physical activity baby, especially in the fresh air;

Often a child begins to get sick after visiting kindergarten

What to do if your child gets sick often?

Let's figure out what to do to prevent your child from getting frequent colds. To ensure that the immune system is not damaged while still in the womb, you need to start thinking about this during pregnancy planning. Especially if the birth of a baby is a long-awaited and desired event for you.

Change your place of residence, if you are convinced that you live in unfavorable environmental conditions.

Change your job. A pregnant woman, especially in the first trimester, should under no circumstances deal with paints, solvents, heavy metals, especially lead, or electromagnetic radiation.

Besides:

What to do	Characteristic
Before conception, it is necessary to undergo an examination by a gynecologist and andrologist.	Will help identify diseases, if any, and undergo treatment
Examination of the expectant mother by other specialists	A very important point. examination, including by a dentist
During pregnancy, protect yourself from infections	You should avoid viral diseases, colds and especially flu, take care and try not to come into contact with carriers of the infection
Breast-feeding	Try to feed your baby breast milk for at least 4-6 months, otherwise you deprive him of maternal protection, and he immediately falls into the risk group of frequently ill children.
If you notice that your baby begins to get sick often, immediately seek help from specialists	First, contact your local pediatrician, who will give you a referral to more specialized specialists: immunologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist. They will conduct diagnostics and determine the cause of reduced immunity.
Many experts may advise you to see a psychologist	Don't take this lightly. Psychology and immunology have long gone hand in hand and have an inextricable connection with each other. And today such specialists can be found even in kindergartens and schools.
Try to maintain peace in your family and do not quarrel in the presence of your child.	He almost always takes it personally and gets very upset. And this is a direct path to weakening the protective forces. Teach yourself to treat everyone calmly life situations, avoid stress
Don’t take too much care, don’t create sterile conditions around him.	This can give him a feeling of inferiority and inferiority.
Pay more attention to him, create an atmosphere of spiritual comfort and warmth around him.	Try to spend more time with him, play, walk, involve him in household chores
Temper and feed your baby properly	In this case, the doctor should help create a diet and advise hardening procedures

According to reviews from doctors, many mothers are shocked that they are advised to start with hardening when tests on their child show bad results.

Komarovsky's opinion

The famous doctor Komarovsky is sure that there are no magic pills to prevent children from getting colds so often. It is possible and necessary to increase its protective powers by eliminating the conflict with the environment. Colds and flu should only be treated using natural methods.

Basically, all children are born with a healthy, strong immune system. But under the influence of environmental conditions and the external environment, it acquires signs of secondary immunodeficiency.

There are two ways to combat the suppression of protective forces: adapt to the environment with the help of medications, or change this very environment so that it does not have a depressing effect on the baby.

External environment what we call lifestyle: air, food, movement, drinking, sleep.

And parents of a small child should decide as quickly as possible what is good for him and what is not so good.

The doctor devoted his books and television programs to these issues, which are extremely popular, despite the fact that the reviews of parents and grandparents on specialized forums dedicated to children's health are very different.

Useful video: Komarovsky about frequently ill children

It is difficult to evaluate Komarovsky's methods without applying and experiencing their results on your child. But it’s even more difficult to take full responsibility for the health of your children, bypassing grandmother’s methods, advice from friends, bad kindergartens, careless pediatricians and teachers.

A frequently ill child causes a lot of trouble and worry to parents. In some families, problems begin in the first months after the baby is born, but more often a whole cascade of respiratory infections hits the baby when he is 2–3 years old. At this age, most children go to preschool institutions, and it is much easier to catch an infection in kindergarten, and subsequently at school. Let's consider what to do if a child often suffers from colds and how to boost immunity.

Frequently ill children differ from ordinary children not in their symptoms, but in the duration and severity of the manifestations of the disease. Doctors classify a child into this category based on the following criteria:

When infected with ARVI, the baby’s temperature rises and lasts for at least a week or has a wave-like character.
A sore throat occurs even after a slight hypothermia or a glass of ice cream.
The baby's nose is always clogged. You have to breathe through your mouth, which causes snoring and wheezing in your sleep.
Cough is difficult to treat; residual effects in the form of coughing are present even between episodes of illness.
The baby suffers from headaches, pain in the ears and limbs.

Such children constantly suffer from sore throat and bronchitis during the cold season.

There is a medical classification that suggests that a child is often ill:

Why does a child often get colds?

Factors that negatively affect the baby’s health are:

Heredity;
Infectious diseases suffered by the mother during pregnancy, complicated by purulent-septic processes;
Hypoxia during childbirth;
Poor nutrition with a deficiency of valuable substances;
Bad ecology;
Allergic and endocrine diseases in the baby;
Dysbacteriosis.

All these reasons lead to a decrease in the child’s immunity. When any harmful microorganism enters, the weakened defense system cannot cope, which leads to the development of an infectious disease.

An unfavorable microclimate in the family also has a negative impact on health. Because of bad habits adults, their disregard for cleanliness, frequent quarrels and scandals, the youngest members of the family suffer the most. It is the parents who are responsible for the fact that their children often get sick. If you initially teach your baby about hygiene, morning exercises If there is a stable psychological situation in the family, then the children’s health will improve.

To accurately determine the causes of persistent ailments, it is necessary to undergo diagnostic procedures. These include a general analysis of urine and blood, culture of nasal and pharyngeal secretions to determine sensitivity to antibiotics. In difficult cases, it is necessary to conduct an extended immunogram to identify weaknesses in the child’s defense system.

Based on the results, the doctor will create a therapeutic and health course that will strengthen the child’s immunity and reduce the incidence of illness. If nothing is done, persistent colds will develop into more serious diseases: various otolaryngological pathologies, chronic diseases of the respiratory system and kidneys.

How do frequently ill children of different ages differ?

The baby’s defenses grow with each passing year. The body's reaction to external unfavorable factors varies in children of different ages.

From birth to two years

At this age, most diseases are due to the fact that children's immunity has not fully formed. Many medications are contraindicated for such babies. What to do if the baby doesn’t eat well, lags behind its peers in development, and even more so constantly has a fever and coughs. A doctor's help is needed here. Treatment of frequently ill young children is carried out only under medical supervision.

Proper nutrition of the baby is important. If possible, breast milk. A one-year-old child begins to be given complementary foods. You need to make sure that there are no allergies to new products.

At 2 years old, the baby is usually enrolled in preschool. In kindergarten, healthy children begin to get sick more often, and with a weakened, frail baby, the mother will not leave the hospital at all. Therefore, measures to increase immunity - fortification, hardening, establishing correct mode days need to start back in the pre-sad period. You cannot refuse preventive vaccinations prescribed according to the calendar.

From three to six years

Children attending preschool institutions suffer from infections 15% more often than children at home. Why does a child often get sick in kindergarten? Pathogens of respiratory and intestinal infections most often pass from one person to another. It is very easy to catch a virus or acquire pathogenic bacteria in a children's group.

Important! You should not send your baby to kindergarten until the age of 3 - by the age of three, the protective system will already be sufficiently formed.

It is important to monitor your baby's nutrition. Not all preschool institutions offer a menu rich in valuable microelements and vitamins. Their deficiency should be replenished at home.

Schoolchildren and teenagers

In schoolchildren up to the fifth grade, a high incidence of respiratory infections is associated with the same reasons as in kindergarten. One or two children in a class become sources of infection. That is why it is so important for frequently ill children. It will not only protect against, but also strengthen immunity to all ARVIs. Such vaccinations are carried out en masse in the garden and at school. They can only be done outside the period of exacerbation of illnesses. If a preschooler or schoolchild gets sick very often, you should consult a doctor before vaccination about an individual immunization schedule.

In adolescents, immunity is already fully formed, and the principles of infection and treatment are the same as in adults. The incidence is decreasing, but preventive measures, especially in the pre-epidemic period, must be observed.

What else do parents need to know whose baby is constantly getting sick?

Often sick children demand from their relatives special attention. There are certain points that mothers and fathers need to take into account in order for the child to become healthy and strong:

Decreased immunity can occur due to helminth infection. If your baby coughs for no reason, grinds his teeth at night, often sweats and puts his fingers in his mouth, he probably has . You need to see a doctor - he will prescribe tests and appropriate treatment.
Certain medications can increase a baby's sensitivity to respiratory diseases. There are no safe pharmaceuticals; any medications can be given only as prescribed by a pediatrician.
An allergic reaction and a corresponding decrease in immunity can be caused by products with a strong odor - from paints to shampoos and deodorants. Also, insufficient wet cleaning and accumulation of dust in the child’s room lead to allergies.
Vitamins for frequently ill children should be recommended by a doctor. Uncontrolled intake of vitamin-mineral complexes can also lead to allergies.
Dry air, especially during the heating season, irritates the baby's weakened airways. It is worth purchasing an air humidifier or at least placing bowls of water under hot radiators.
Dress your baby according to the weather. You should not wrap your child up too much, because the illness can cause not only hypothermia, but also sweating.

Toys with strong odor or paint that stains your hands should not be purchased. You also need to wash teddy bears and bunnies more often. On soft toys Dust accumulates and pathogenic microorganisms grow in them, causing allergic reactions.

What does medical rehabilitation of frequently ill children include?

Often sick children need certain medical procedures. These include:

Sanitation of foci of chronic ailments (cure of caries, adenoids, etc.);
Physiotherapy (Ural irradiation, speleotherapy, magnetic laser therapy, balneotherapy, inductothermy, other procedures);
Reception.

The doctor selects suitable adaptogens. This could be echinacea tincture, preparations with ginseng, bee products (honey, propolis, royal jelly). It is important to ensure that natural immune stimulants do not cause allergies in a weakened child. Pharmaceutical drugs of this spectrum suitable for young children include Bronchoimmunal and Anaferon.

If a child often suffers from colds, the pediatrician can give recommendations on therapeutic exercises or a referral to classes at a health center. Special sets of exercises have been developed for such children. This includes breathing exercises for frequently ill children, which helps combat insufficient nasal breathing, restore blood circulation in the lungs and prevent adhesions. And general training will improve the tone of a weakened child, strengthen his muscles and improve his neuropsychic sphere. Such exercises are carried out strictly in doses and only under the supervision of a specialist.

How to boost immunity at home?

Moms and dads often ask the pediatrician: “Why do children get sick all the time?” Having received an answer about reduced immunity, they begin to panic. But here we are not talking about a serious illness - congenital immunodeficiency, but about pain due to the influence of negative factors that weaken the baby’s defense system. To strengthen it, you need to streamline the life regimen of the baby and the whole family.

The main point to pay attention to is nutrition. For babies the best option- mother's milk. The menu for older children should certainly include dairy products, lean meat, fish, cereals, vegetables and fruits. You will have to give up fast food, lemonades, smoked meats and marinades. Replace cakes and sweets with natural sweets - marshmallows, marmalade, jam.

It would be ideal to contact a nutritionist who will create an individual nutrition plan for your baby in accordance with his age and chronic ailments.

Hardening

The second important point is hardening procedures. How to strengthen a frequently ill child? Do not wrap your baby up or overheat his room. Ideal temperature– from 18 to 22 degrees. Get outdoors more often. Light rain and snow should not be an obstacle to walking. Inclement weather is a kind of adaptation to the environment.

Hardening of frequently ill children also includes:

Water procedures. These include regular douches, rubdowns (for the little ones) and bathing. During the first procedures, the water should be no colder than 32 degrees. Gradually it can be made cooler, brought to room temperature, decreasing it by one degree every week.
Barefoot walking on uneven surfaces. On sand, on pebbles, on grass. IN winter time You can purchase a special orthopedic mat for your baby.
Air baths. From birth, the baby should be left without clothes for a couple of minutes in a ventilated room at a temperature of at least 20 degrees. The time gradually increases - up to a quarter of an hour by the age of one. The ambient temperature can be gradually reduced to 17 degrees. It’s great if it is possible to conduct such baths in the fresh air.
Gargling with cool herbal infusions. This is especially useful if the baby suffers from tonsillitis, tonsillitis and pharyngitis.

Before hardening your baby, consult your pediatrician.

The third important method of boosting immunity is physical exercise. They stimulate the immune system to fight infection. Mom or dad will help babies do exercises. This can be a gentle pulling of the arms and legs, bending them. After doing these exercises, massage your baby in a circular motion clockwise back and stomach.

With older children, arrange fun games outdoors or at home. Install a mini-corner for physical education in your room and go out for exercise with the whole family.

Frequently ill children can strengthen their immunity with the help of natural gifts. Herbal teas with mint, cranberry, lingonberry, rowan, sea buckthorn, viburnum, chamomile and rose hips will saturate the body essential vitamins, in particular, ascorbic acid. It helps fight pathogenic microbes and increases resistance to infections.

What to do if your baby gets sick again?

According to doctors, pharmaceuticals, especially antibiotics, should not be abused. Thus, the famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky recommends that the child spend the first five days of illness in bed. This way he will save energy for recovery and will not infect the people around him.

The baby should be given an antipyretic only if the temperature has exceeded 38 degrees. Before this, drinking plenty of fortified drinks will help - best of all, natural berry fruit drinks and herbal teas.

Frequent ventilation of the room where the young patient is located is required. And when the temperature drops, you can go for a walk. Fresh air will eliminate any remaining infection and give you a boost of energy.

A recently ill child should rest a little at home and communicate less with people around him so that a new infection does not enter the weakened body. You should not go with him to attractions or to the cinema, take him shopping or visit.

After an illness, the child must gradually return to normal. Therefore, limiting contacts should not lead to sleeping until noon and playing computer games for many hours. Getting enough sleep, getting up early, eating right and walking will help you quickly return to normal life.

Do not forget about the family psychological climate. In an atmosphere of love, warmth and trust, the frailest baby becomes healthier. And the adult family members will feel better. Happiness truly inspires and heals!

Remember that only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis; do not self-medicate without consultation and diagnosis by a qualified doctor. Be healthy!

Frequently ill children are those who experience acute respiratory infections (ARI) 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 with one acute respiratory infection). Children who are ill for a long time can also be classified as frequently ill.

Externally, acute respiratory infections can manifest as a runny nose, cough, redness of the throat, general weakness, and fever. Frequently ill children may have one, but long-term symptom, for example, a constant cough or coughing, persistent nasal discharge, while the temperature may be normal. If a child’s temperature is always elevated, 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. Let's consider the main factors leading to weakened immunity.

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

Another important factor for the formation of immunity is mother’s milk, so children who are breastfed breastfeeding, they rarely suffer from acute respiratory infections, and vice versa, an early transition to artificial formulas 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 unfavorable factors, a baby may develop background conditions that weaken the immune system (intestinal dysbiosis, hypovitaminosis, rickets).

Severe weakening of the immune system often occurs after severe illness or surgery. If a child has had dysentery, salmonellosis, pneumonia, or tonsillitis, his immunity is weakened. Viruses greatly weaken the functions of the immune system. After suffering from influenza, measles, and other viral diseases, a child has an increased sensitivity to infections and may become frequently ill.

Long-term use of certain medications weakens the immune system, including, for example, immunosuppressants, some antitumor drugs, oral steroid hormones, and most antibiotics.

If the use of these medications is necessary, it is advisable to take preventive measures to maintain normal immune function.

The presence of chronic diseases in a child also weakens defense 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, trichomonas. Often the cause of weakened immunity is worms and lamblia, which are quite difficult to diagnose in feces.

There are congenital immunodeficiency conditions, including isolated immunodeficiencies, when a child has a defect in one part of the immune system. Children with such immunodeficiencies may often suffer from some kind of recurrent, that is, recurring, diseases. If a child constantly suffers from the same type of disease, he needs to be examined for the presence of congenital immunopathology.

Finally, proper balanced nutrition and regimen are of great importance for the normal functioning of the immune system. A child can often get sick for a long time if his diet lacks vitamins or, for example, there are no products of animal origin or the food contains a lot of carbohydrates, but little protein and fat. If the child is rarely in the fresh air, sedentary lifestyle life, 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 disrupted schedule of preventive vaccinations, they cannot attend preschool institutions, and at school age they are forced to miss classes. Parents have to periodically stay home with a sick child, and this affects their work.

A frequently ill child develops a vicious circle: against the background of a weakened immune system, he becomes ill with acute respiratory infections, which in turn further weaken the immune system. As a result of the body's increased sensitivity 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, sinusitis...). The presence of chronic infections can lead to delays 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.

Algorithm of actions

If a child is often sick, you need to start general strengthening preventive measures: vitamin therapy, a balanced diet... It is important to cure chronic diseases, especially ENT pathologies: chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis), adenoids.

Parents of frequently ill children need to 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, you can undergo special tests: studies to detect pulmonary forms of chlamydia, mycoplasma and pneumocystis for persistent cough, throat smear for chronic tonsillitis...

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

Parents do not always understand why their child often gets colds. The food is good, he walks outside, sleeps for the required number of hours, and the baby certainly develops 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. Has your baby caught a cold a couple of times a year (more often in the autumn-winter period)? There's no need to panic. If colds constantly “cling” to your child, read the material: you will understand what the cause of acute respiratory infections is and how to solve the problem.

Frequently ill children

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

Check if your baby belongs to the FBD category, which means “Frequently Sick Children”:

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

Advice! If you determine that acute respiratory infections occur too often in your baby, pay attention to tips on how to increase the body's defenses. Don’t put off useful activities for too long, especially if your son or daughter gets sick so often that some cold symptoms go away, others appear again, and so on in a circle, almost without a break.

Risk group

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

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

Provoking factors:

improper daily routine, sedentary lifestyle, the child rarely walks in the fresh air;
frequent emotional overload: stress at school, difficulties in relationships with friends, the period of “building up” after the holidays;
long-term treatment with immunosuppressants, steroid hormones, antibiotics;
intestinal infections suffered at an early age, dysbiosis;
moving to a new climate zone, another time zone;
surgical intervention performed not so long ago.

Weak immunity is one of the side effects feeding. 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 the body's immunity and resistance. Frequently ill children often face complex effects, the harm from which is much greater.

The main causes of frequent colds in children:

secondary immunodeficiency;
an incompletely cured cold;
constant action of negative factors that reduce the body’s defenses;
congenital immune disorders

Doctors have found that most young patients in the CBD category have secondary (acquired) immunodeficiency. Most often, defenses weaken under the influence of a complex of negative factors.

It is more difficult to correct the situation when the baby lives under constant stress on the immune system. Unfortunately, one of the reasons for frequent colds is the incorrect behavior of adults, ignorance/unwillingness to follow basic 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 breastfeeding will give the baby drops of a valuable product - colostrum, which contains biologically active substances that “trigger” the mechanism of immunity formation.

Adviсe:

breastfeed for at least one year, ideally up to one and a half years;
If your mother doesn't have enough milk, spend as much time as possible mixed feeding, do not immediately switch to baby formula;
prevent intestinal infections;
You shouldn’t give your baby dishes from the “adult” table too early;
Introduce complementary foods gradually to reduce the load on the fragile stomach and intestines.

Poor nutrition

Frequent mistakes of children and parents:

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

Increased loads

Pay attention to the symptoms of helminthic infestations:

grinding teeth at night;
irresistible craving for sweets;
poor appetite;
increased sweating in a child;
weakness, irritability;
often rubbing the anal area;
coughing without other cold symptoms.

Find out more about symptoms and treatment for children of different ages.

Instructions for using Nurofen baby syrup are described on the page.

Read here about how to quickly relieve a child’s toothache at home.

How to reduce the frequency of colds

It is important to act correctly and take 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 rearrange the way of life, but the changes benefit the frequently 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 and replace them with high-quality ones;
take more walks depending on the weather, stop wrapping your baby up;
go to healthy eating, 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 too dry, a humidifier will help;
Give the young patient only those medications prescribed by the doctor. Self-selection of drugs, especially antibiotics, often reduces immunity and causes side effects;
For children who are often ill, outdoor sports activities are recommended, not indoors;
If you have a cold, give less animal protein and provide light, healthy food. An excellent option is chicken broth, buckwheat porridge, herbal teas, fermented milk products, fruits, vegetables;
after recovery, avoid going to places with large crowds of people, visiting children's group(for babies). There are no longer any symptoms of a cold, but the immune defense is still weak. Any contact with viruses, microbes, which often hover in a closed room where there are many children (group, class), will provoke a new round of disease.

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

hardening. Good effect This includes pouring cool water over your feet, walking on a pebble mat (“path of health”), and taking a bath with sea water. Strengthens by swimming, air baths, walks in the fresh air. Start hardening when the baby is completely healthy;
phytotherapy. Vitamin decoctions are useful. Berries and medicinal herbs will help. Good for health: mint, lemon balm, chamomile, rose hips, rowan, viburnum, cranberry;
fresh air. Paints, household chemicals, varnishes, tobacco smoke worsen air quality and negatively affect the respiratory system. Avoid using/minimize exposure to harmful substances;
optimal temperature and humidity. For good night keep the child’s room at +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 class and in a circle (section, music school). Choose one direction for additional classes, minimize the load to a reasonable level;
more vitamins, avoiding junk food. A healthy diet and taking multivitamins in autumn and spring are recommended. A vitamin bomb will help in the cold season. Combine a glass of ground dried apricots, nuts, raisins, and pour in the juice of 1 lemon. If you are not allergic, add ½ cup of honey. Give a teaspoon morning and evening;
control of intestinal activity. Watch for constipation/diarrhea. Foods rich in fiber (fruits, vegetables, grains) improve peristalsis. Prevent dysbiosis by giving your baby medications containing beneficial lactobacilli (probiotics) along with antibiotics. Treat intestinal infections in a timely manner, teach children to wash their hands, fruits, berries, and vegetables before eating.

Basic measures:

strengthening the immune system, taking into account the recommendations from the previous section;
sufficient intake of vitamins from food and multivitamin complexes;
reducing the frequency of stressful situations, a calm environment in the family, kindergarten, school;
rinsing the mouth, drinking herbal infusions;
maintaining hygiene standards, washing hands upon returning home;
regular ventilation of the room, clothing according to the season;
physical activity: exercise, visiting sports sections;
control of chronic pathologies, minimizing the risk of relapse;
refusal of foods that provoke allergies;
avoiding passive smoking;
regular visits to the pediatrician;
when identifying pathologies of various organs - timely, complete treatment, preventing diseases from becoming chronic.

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