As a parent, one often wonders what else is normal about infections. Especially in the first three years of life can often lead to infections with symptoms such as fever, runny nose, cough, vomiting and diarrhea.
As a general rule, an infant has an average of eight to nine infections per year, often up to twelve infections in the first two years of life.
The cause of this is due to the immune system of the child. In the case of upper respiratory tract infections, there are hundreds of viruses that can cause such an infection.
Children have to establish immunity in contact with viruses and bacteria. Adults usually have 30 to 40 such infections behind them and are therefore immune to many pathogens.
Especially in kindergarten or play groups, the children can very quickly infect each other. A child is sick, then they all take the same toy in the mouth or sometimes drink from the same cup, and already the pathogen spreads.
The infections very often affect the mucous membranes, which then swell up and go to the nose. The airways are much narrower in infants, so a slight swelling can very quickly cause more serious symptoms, such as a respiratory disorder. For the common otitis media in infancy, the same applies. Due to mucosal swelling, the connecting passage between the throat and ear closes very quickly and the lack of ventilation bacteria can grow very well and lead to inflammation.
The good news is that the child’s immune system benefits if it trains as early as possible with many pathogens.
How can you strengthen the immune system?
Lots of exercise in the fresh air and a healthy and balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
Avoiding too many industrial products as well as sugar and cow’s milk products, as these lead to a chronic mucilage.
Alternative medicine to strengthen the immune system.
And has struck the infection, even let the child fever, if it allows his general well-being. With each increase in temperature, the body’s immune performance doubles.
Yours Dr. med. Karin Rittweiler
Pediatrician
