Is it possible to increase the child's defenses to avoid colds?

"Doctor, give me something to increase your defenses ... because it's not normal for us to go to a cold every two weeks." Well, yes, it's normal. It is considered normal for a child under two years of age to have up to twelve common infections per year sobre, especially if he goes to nursery school

"Doctor, give me something to increase your defenses ... because it's not normal for us to go to a cold every two weeks."

Well, yes, it's normal. It is considered normal for a child under two years of age to have up to twelve common infections per year sobre, especially if he goes to nursery school (the so-called nursery school). That is: colds, pharyngitis, gastroenteritis, otitis and febrile processes without a clear focus that resolve spontaneously. Yes, you read correctly: twelve. But it is also that these twelve infections that are considered normal will not be distributed evenly throughout the year, but will tend to concatenate with each other during the colder months.How to stimulate the child's immune system

In this way, it is entirely possible for your child to get sick up to twice a month in winter. It is normal to start with the mucus in September and release in March, the cough seems endless, that the day you no longer have mucus have loose stools and that, when everything seemed to go well, come otitis.

I insist, it's normal. Your son does not have any problems with the defenses. On the contrary, it is developing them. Your immune system is facing a host of new bacteria and, above all, viruses that live on the same planet as us. And

you have to learn to recognize these microorganisms and fight against them . The white blood cells also need to go to school, and the price you have to pay for this learning are all those annoying symptoms and against which, rarely, you have to fight. Forget about fevers, snot, coughs and poop. Have you seen your son's face? Smile? Well, that's normal. It has nothing serious."Well, if it's the school's fault, then I will not take him until he's older and meanwhile he stays at home with me." It is an option, but do not forget that

we are only delaying this inevitable confrontation against the world of microorganisms . Sooner or later, you will have repetitive banal infections, as annoying as they are necessary."Ok, it's normal, but then when should I worry? When should I think my child has some type of immunodeficiency? " Luckily, inmun immunodeficiencies are very unusual, they are exceptional diseases

. If the infections of your child always end badly, admitted to the hospital, needing multiple antibiotics and living longer with white coats than with the stuffed animals in the room, then it is possible that something goes wrong. Do not ask for something for the defenses, ask for a study of the immune system. But if this is not the case with your son,do not ask for something to reinforce the defenses, because there is not, si and if you insist you will end up giving a hare. Avoid sudden changes in temperature, maintain a balanced diet, do not smoke in the presence of children, ventilate the house daily, wash your hands before eating and after going to the bathroom (and after playing in the park), rest properly adequate, run, play, jump and have fun. All this, even with the snot hanging and with that cough that seems old, is what your child should do to strengthen their defenses. And everything else, does not work, or at least there is no scientific evidence that it is effective.

Do you want to try your neighbor's real jelly because he has done well? Go ahead, I do not tell you not to try. Nor do I tell you that it will not be effective in your son. I'm just saying that, scientifically, it does not work. But each one is each, and to me the natural orange juice feels, for example, phenomenal. Do not forget that, in the world of infectious diseases, most of the time the key is not in the "bug" in question, but in the response that each one of us establishes against the invader. I mean, the key is in the guest.