Children do become ill from flus and viruses each and every year, and this is a normal part of growing up. However, if you notice that your son or daughter is sick more often than not, then you may be worried that something is wrong with your child. You do need to see your family doctor about this, and there are a few things that your physician is likely to tell you.
The Viruses Are Normal
Children typically contract between five and ten colds each year. They also may become ill with one or several strains of the flu. Influenza A, B, and C are common, but one or two strains are likely to dominate each flu season. If you add all of this information together, then your child may have one illness each and every month. If you take into account the fact that a cold can linger for 10 to 14 days, then you child may literally be sick about 50% of the time.
The good news is that your child's immune system will become stronger and will eventually fight off many of the viruses that the body is exposed to. The thymus plays a vital role in building immune strength, and the gland is active when children are young.
If you want to help your son or daughter's immune system, then make sure they eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Vitamins and vital nutrients are required by the body to retain cellular and system-wide health. Exercise, an adequate sleep cycle, and good hygiene practices are all important as well.
It May Be Allergies
Your child may not be contracting colds throughout the year, but they may simply have an allergy problem instead. In fact, this may be probable, since many health and news organizations are reporting an increasing number of allergies among both adults and children. If you think allergies may be a concern, then consider the time of year that your child becomes ill and the circumstances surrounding the illnesses. For example, does your son or daughter have a runny nose or do you notice breathing difficulties after visiting a relative with a cat or dog?
Allergy tests can be completed on children so a firm diagnosis can be made. Also, the nose can be examined for signs of allergic rhinitis which is an inflammation condition that occurs when the body responds to an allergen.
Allergies can be managed with medication, so speak with your pediatrician or Family Health Center PLLC if you want to know more about keeping symptoms at bay.
Share21 November 2017
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
