In winter, children get sick much more often. However, there are simple ways to strengthen children's immunity. Catch 8 life hacks from doctors to help your child get sick less
Winter colds in children are common and, we will not be afraid of this word, regular. According to statistics, the average incidence of a child who goes to the garden is about 2 episodes of colds per month in the autumn-winter period. This is considered the norm, but it does not make it easier for mothers. And many ask the eternal question: is it possible to make the child less sick? The answer to it is known to our experts - pediatrician-neonatologist, doctor of the highest category Elena Rasich and General Practitioner, Head of the Evidence Center for Contemporary Pediatrics Sergey Makarov.
1. Eliminate foci of infection
Dental problems can reduce local immunity / istockphoto.com
“From the point of view of microbiology, the dirtiest place in our body is the nasopharynx in the morning,” warns Elena Rasich. - No matter how thoroughly we brush our teeth in the evening, bacteria remain. During the night, they have time to multiply. If we start the morning with a glass of water, as is often recommended, then we send bacteria from the nasopharynx directly to the digestive tract. And brushing your teeth is not a panacea, because children involuntarily swallow the paste. "
It is advisable to rinse your mouth and throat immediately after sleep. You can use plain water or herbal infusion (for these purposes, sage, coltsfoot or ordinary chamomile tea: insist one bag in a glass of boiling water), and only after that start brushing your teeth and breakfast.
Regular visits to the pediatric dentist. “The slightest caries is an attack on the nasopharyngeal mucosa. A diseased tooth is a focus of infection, with which the microflora of the oral cavity has to fight. We get a chronic decrease in local immunity, and the child becomes more susceptible to viruses and bacteria that enter the nasopharynx from the outside, ”explains Elena Rasich.
2. Healthy atmosphere
A humidifier can help create a healthy atmosphere / istockphoto.com
“The mucous membrane of the respiratory tract itself does a good job of resisting infectious agents,” says Sergei Makarov. “But it works effectively if it is clean and moist. Dry, dusty and hot air makes the mucous membrane dry out, it is easier for a child to get sick and complications arise faster. " Therefore, the optimal temperature (18-20 degrees) and humidity (50-60%) of the air should be not only at home, but also in the kindergarten. Invite the parents in the group to buy a hygrometer and a humidifier.
But you can refrain from buying a quartz lamp. “We turn on a quartz lamp and irradiate the air, in which we seem to kill pathogens,” explains Sergey Makarov. - But after that the room must be well ventilated. It turns out that all the disinfected air went out into the street, fresh air came in from the street. What is then the meaning of quartzing? An open-type household emitter cannot destroy all indoor viruses, including those found on toys, pillows, doorknobs and carpets. So a child may well catch an infection with or without quartzing. "
3. Taboo on bad habits
This is not about teenage smoking, but about the problem of dirty hands. “The transmission of viruses occurs not only by airborne droplets when coughing, sneezing and talking,” recalls Sergey Makarov. - They often enter our body with our hands. The sick child scratched his nose, with this hand took hold of the doorknob. Another took hold of the same handle, then scratched an eye. This is how the infection was transmitted without direct contact. "
Therefore, the habit of touching your face, pulling your fingers into your mouth or biting your nails contributes to the infection of ARVI. If the kid has such a habit, carefully wean him off of it. Instead, we teach you to wash your hands often. Not only after going to the toilet and before eating, but throughout the day.
4. We instill independence
From an early age, instill in a child independence / istockphoto.com
They won't have time to keep track of all the hands in the garden. As well as for tights, pajamas and wet socks after a walk. Therefore, we develop in the baby the maximum independence for his age. Ideally, when the child can dress himself if he is cold, and take off the excess if it is hot. If he cannot, we teach the teacher to talk about problems and seek solutions to these problems.
5. Targeted vitamin therapy
Vitamin D should be given to all children, regardless of age / istockphoto.com
Virus prevention measures are often sufficient. But in winter, many mothers have itchy hands syndrome: to strengthen the immune system, the child must be given something. The doctors agree, it is necessary. But not everyone and not everything. “Many children have vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to a decrease in the body's resistance, - says Sergey Makarov. - According to the protocol in Ukraine, this vitamin must be additionally given to children under three years old, although at four and six they still need it. Iron deficiency also has a negative effect on the resistance to viruses. Therefore, if a child is sick more often than his peers, it makes sense to purposefully examine him for iron deficiency and vitamin D deficiency. "
If a shortage is found, then you will need to drink the drugs that the doctor will prescribe. But we don’t spend money on multivitamin complexes. A rational and varied diet is enough for the child to support the immune system. If you want more vitamins - give seasonal vegetables and fruits, make fresh juices, organize a healthy snack.
6. Maintain acid-base balance
Healthy food maintains acid-base balance / istockphoto.com
“All food products, according to their effect on the body, are divided into acidifying and alkalizing ones,” explains Elena Rasich. - In this case, initially less alkali is formed than acids. For the full functioning of all systems, and the immune system in particular, a balance is needed. For example, meat and cereals are acidifying, while vegetables and fruits alkalize the body. Therefore, it is better to give a cutlet or fish with a vegetable salad, but porridge is good as an independent dish. They are best eaten with fruit or vegetable supplements. "
7. Barrier to infections
Many mothers like to smear the baby's nose with oxolinic ointment. “But with all the will, you will not apply it deeply. The virus will "slip" through the barrier in the nose and settle on the larynx. The disease will begin without snot, but with a cough, - explains Elena Rasic. - In addition, the antiviral effect of the ointment lasts 2-3 hours. Then there is just an ointment base, which covers the mucous membrane and stops its protective function, preventing the cells from working fully ”.
If you really want to create at least some kind of obstacle to infections, it is better to use a weak solution of sea salt (a quarter teaspoon in a glass of warm boiled water) or infusion of garlic (chop a clove of garlic and pour boiling water over it, leave for 10-15 minutes, remove the garlic, and dilute the infusion with boiled water, try it on yourself - so that there is no bitterly).
“Garlic contains phytoncides, biologically active substances that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Unlike oxolin, their effect lasts for 5-6 hours. And sea salt creates a PH-environment in which viruses and bacteria cannot reproduce, - says Elena Rasich. "Therefore, in front of the garden, you can drip the child's nose with garlic water (no more than 1-2 drops in each nostril), and after the garden, moisten and disinfect with saline."
8. Calm, only calm
“Energetically, up to the age of 15, a child is connected to our subconsciousness, and perceives his ailments through our attitude towards them,” emphasizes Elena Rasich. "He reads his mom's fear for his health, and his body produces stress hormones that suppress the immune and endocrine systems." The more we are afraid that our beloved child will get sick, the more we project this fear onto the child, reducing the resistance of his body.
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