Why Does My Child Fall Sick Often?
It is common to hear parents complaining that their children fall sick often after attending school or kindergarten. By the time their children recover from one infection, they catch the next one. The visit to the paediatrician often turns into a routine.
Parents try out all possible medication for the better health of their little ones, be it the traditional home remedies or the treatment suggested by a paediatrician. But the question of why they fall sick often remains intact!
Children, especially toddlers, do not have a completely developed immune system that can protect them from minor infections. Due to this, children are more susceptible or prone to infection when they come in contact with illnesses.
They like to put stuff inside their mouths, regardless of whether it’s a banana, a stuffed toy, a pencil, or a piece of paper. This social exploration comes with a high risk of exposure to germs that allows them to fall sick.
Common colds, coughs, stomach bugs, ringworms and pink eye are some of the common illnesses found amongst children. These illnesses can spread effortlessly through direct and indirect contact between children.
Preschool or kindergarten is a place that has an environment for spreading viruses. The reason behind this is because children are likely to use their hands to wipe their noses or lick their fingers and then handle toys, pencils, or play with other children. In this way, the viruses spread from one child to another.
How to prevent children from falling sick often?
- Though children often forget to maintain hygiene, parents need to remind them to keep themselves and the surroundings clean and tidy. Parents can train their children to wash hands after using the toilet as well as before and after food. Similarly, you should ensure that your child washes hands the right way to keep their hands free from germs. You can make the hand washing process fun by using animal soaps or singing a song along with them. Not sure which is the correct way of washing hands? Check this out- Hand-washing Steps Using the WHO Technique – YouTube
- You can help boost your child’s immune system by providing them a healthy diet. Carrots, green leafy vegetables, green beans, oranges, and broccoli are rich in immunity-boosting phytonutrients such as vitamin C and carotenoids. These phytonutrients increase the production of antibodies that prevents viruses from affecting the body. Antibodies are specialized proteins that help the body fight against infections and disease when they recognize foreign particles like viruses, bacteria, and infected cells. Hence, maintaining a healthy diet is essential to fight against viruses.
- Parents need to ensure their toddlers have at least 10 hours of sleep each day. Along with a healthy diet, regular exercise and physical play enables the production of antibodies in children.
Children at a tender age fall sick often. Although we worry, this is not uncommon. No matter what you do, they are bound to get sick often in their younger years. Let your little ones develop their immune system. Over the years, your child will be able to build up antibodies against various viruses. So, by the time they are in middle school, their bodies will know how to fight these viruses pretty well.
We, Jumpstart preschool train your children regarding basic hygiene so often and also about good habits.
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