How to boost immunity in a child?

A child is born with an imperfect and quite vulnerable immune system. Immunity strengthens over time and is a reflection of the baby's health. How to improve a child's immunity to protect him from possible diseases? There are many ways to do this, which we will tell you about.

How to boost immunity in a one-year-old child?

From the moment the child is born, the mother often begins to think about what can be done to ensure that the baby does not get sick and develops normally. However, many do not know that at the very beginning of life, the child is protected no worse than an adult, since a large number of all kinds of antibodies are transmitted to the newborn from the mother. However, even the mother cannot provide the child with immune protection against all diseases. Colds, respiratory infections - all this not only causes problems for both the mother and the baby, but also contributes to the formation of the newborn's own personal immunity.

First of all, those children who were born with some health problems need to increase their body's defenses. These may be congenital pathologies of the pulmonary system, prolonged hypoxia, infectious complications. How to increase the immunity of a one-year-old child?

You should follow simple but very effective rules:

• breastfeed your baby as long as possible – breast milk strengthens the baby’s immune system better than other means;
• harden your child. This does not mean that the baby should be bathed in an ice hole or rubbed with snow. Hardening small children primarily involves air baths: let the child run around naked at home. Do not dress the child too warmly: overheating is no less harmful to the baby than hypothermia;
• after discharge from the maternity hospital, do not create absolutely sterile conditions in the apartment. Of course, no one has canceled the standard general hygiene rules, but there is no need to bring the baby's conditions closer to the sterility of the operating room. Remember: even if to a small extent, but the baby should come into contact with bacteria, since it is microorganisms that stimulate the child's specific immunity.

How to improve immunity in a 2 year old child?

If parents are thinking about how to boost a 2-year-old child's immunity, there must be good reasons for this. All children get sick, but this does not mean that the child has a weak immune system.

Diseases are necessary to some extent, because without them we would not receive specific immunity. The same applies to our children: in order for the child's body to produce antibodies to a particular pathogenic microorganism, it must first "get acquainted" with specific bacteria and viruses. If the baby gets sick twice in winter and once in autumn, this is not a reason to take measures to increase the baby's immune defense. So, when should you sound the alarm and work on immunity?

• If the baby gets colds more than five times a year.
• If a cold or flu occurs without an increase in temperature (as is known, an increase in temperature is the immune system’s response to the introduction of an infectious agent).
• If the baby is diagnosed with anemia or other blood diseases.
• If there are constantly enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck and armpits.
• If a child is diagnosed with an enlarged spleen.
• If the baby often suffers from allergic reactions.
• If a baby has a disturbance in the intestinal microflora.

If any of the listed symptoms are present, you should consult a specialist. This could be your pediatrician or pediatric immunologist. You should not use medications to boost your child's immunity on your own: this is quite risky and can harm your baby.

How to improve immunity in a 3 year old child?

Parents pay special attention to their child's immunity before the child is about to go to kindergarten. Communication with other children, strange adults, unfamiliar food and conditions - all this can affect the child's health, especially if his immunity is weakened. What to do?

Try following these rules to prepare your child's immunity for kindergarten:

• carefully monitor what your baby eats. The child's menu should contain the maximum amount of vitamins and nutrients;
• on the recommendation of a doctor, start giving your child special children's multivitamin preparations;
• teach your child discipline and a daily routine that is close to that of the kindergarten your child will attend;
• Even before your child starts attending kindergarten, you should accustom him to the company of other children. Go together to playgrounds, playrooms, where the child can communicate with peers.

The more a child is adapted to society and the environment, the stronger his immune defense will be in everyday life.

How to improve immunity in a 6 year old child?

Six years old – the child is very close to going to school. Again new impressions, new living conditions and a new way of life. How will the child cope with these changes? How to increase the immunity of a 6-year-old child, and is it necessary?

Let's look step by step at what the parents of such a child can and should do.

1. If your child has been ill in the last 10-12 months, before sending him to school, you should definitely consult and undergo examinations with a specialist (depending on the disease that the child suffered from). This could be a pediatrician, otolaryngologist, dentist or gastroenterologist. It is very important to treat all diseases before school, especially chronic ones, and also to check for worms and fungal infections, which significantly and negatively affect the immune system.
2. It is advisable to make sure that the child does not have dysbacteriosis - an imbalance of intestinal microflora, which also plays a huge role in the formation of a healthy immune system.
3. Make sure that your baby eats less junk food and more vegetables and fruits.
4. Maintain an active lifestyle for your child: do gymnastics, sports, play active games with him. A trip to the sea gives a good health result: the sun, air and water have the most positive effect on the baby's health and strengthen his immunity, as they say, for future use.
5. Teach your child to follow the rules of hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day, wash your hands before eating, wash your face, put on clean clothes, do not use other people's towels and things - these are all banal, but very necessary rules.

Means to increase immunity in children

One of the generally accepted means of increasing immunity in children is vaccination – the creation of specific immunity against certain diseases. For example, children who have been vaccinated against tuberculosis will never get sick with it (with an accuracy of 95-100%).

Vaccination is a kind of stimulant for the immune system, which learns to produce antibodies against a certain type of pathogen.

Modern vaccines are not dangerous for a child. They contain dead pathogens, or their elements or proteins. Vaccine components cannot cause disease, but they allow immune cells to train on them, producing the necessary level of antibodies for protection.

In our country, children are vaccinated against the following diseases:

• hepatitis B;
• tuberculosis;
• diphtheria;
• tetanus;
• whooping cough;
• polio;
• Haemophilus influenzae infection;
• measles;
• rubella;
• epidemic mumps, etc.

This entire list includes the most dangerous diseases that can be prevented by providing the child with specific immunity through vaccination.

Drugs that boost immunity in children

Unfortunately, the immune system can often be so weakened that it is necessary to take special medications that boost children's immunity. Frequent viral and purulent infections, colds and chronic diseases (sinusitis, adenoids, etc.) force parents to look for more radical and faster ways to boost the child's immunity.

To do this, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe the most optimal drug that will not only help and stimulate the immune system, but will not cause disgust in the child. It is very important that the baby takes such medicine with pleasure.

The drug Immunal is very popular with mothers and medical professionals. This is a herbal remedy containing an extract of echinacea, which greatly increases immunity, including during flu epidemics and colds.

Good stimulants of the immune system include Ribomunal, Bronchomunal and the immunostimulant IRS 19, which activate humoral and cellular immunity, stimulating the production of antibodies to pathogens. These medications can be used as a preventive and therapeutic agent for long-term and periodically exacerbating infectious diseases. They are used in both adults and children from six months.

In addition, it is recommended to use drugs belonging to the interferon group, as well as drugs based on nucleic acids. Such drugs consist of biologically active substances that can stop the development of a large number of infectious diseases.

Only a doctor should select the dose and treatment regimen, since children have very sensitive organisms, and an incorrectly calculated amount of the drug can cause unpredictable consequences. Do not experiment on a child: it is better to consult a specialist.

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Products that boost immunity in children

A properly structured diet, rich in vitamins and other useful substances necessary for the child's body, will help strengthen the child's immunity. Of course, vitamins from food are absorbed more easily and completely than from ready-made multivitamin preparations. Considering this, we can highlight the main products that increase immunity in children. Use them depending on the age of the child: this will help maintain the child's health without resorting to the use of pharmaceutical drugs.

• Breast milk is a direct source of health for the baby. After the child reaches one year of age, goat's and cow's milk can also be added to the diet - low-fat, ideally 1.5-2% (if tolerated).
• Fermented milk products – fresh kefir, cottage cheese, yogurt (without additives).
• Apples are a local fruit available all year round. Improves digestion, stabilizes microflora, and strengthens immune defense.
• Carrots and beets are rich in vitamins and microelements. They can be used fresh or boiled, in salads and casseroles, and also for making freshly squeezed juices.
• Beekeeping products are successfully used to stabilize the immune system of children who are not allergic to honey. To begin with, it is recommended to simply add honey to warm tea or porridge.
• Greens – it is no secret that greens contain more vitamins than any root vegetable or fruit. Just add parsley or dill to any second or first course. You can also make vitamin cocktails based on greens.
• Onions and garlic are known sources of phytoncides, which kill germs and bacteria.
• Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C, without which it is difficult to imagine a healthy immune system. Be careful if your child is prone to allergies.

In general, any fresh vegetables and fruits will be good for your child. Such food is undoubtedly better and healthier than sweets, chips, products with dyes and preservatives. Teach your child healthy eating from infancy, and he will never have problems with immunity.

Immunity Boosting Vitamins for Children

Today in pharmacies you can find an endless number of vitamin complexes aimed at strengthening the immune system, including in children. Children's complex preparations are distinguished by a specific composition of vitamins and their gentle dosage. Which preparations should you choose?

We present to your attention a short list of the most popular drugs from this series.

• Multi-Tabs Baby – designed for children under 2 years of age;
• Multi-Tabs Baby – for children over 2 years old;
• Multi-Tabs Classic – for children from 5 years old;
• Centrum for children – can be used from 2 years of age;
• Pikovit is available for children in the form of dragees, syrup for the very young, or syrup with a prebiotic (for children aged 3 years and over);
• Vitrum for children (hypoallergenic) – intended for children aged 1 to 14 years;
• Jungle-children's, multivitamins - are divided into several options, depending on age (from birth to 1 year and older);
• Alphabet Kindergarten is a variety of chewable tablets with a pleasant taste.

When choosing multivitamins to boost immunity for children, you should not rely on the opinions of friends or relatives. It is much more important to carefully study the composition of each drug, as well as listen to the recommendations of the pediatrician. He will also determine the best vitamin regimen for your baby.

Immune Boosting Candles for Children

In most cases, suppositories that boost immunity for children are better tolerated and have fewer side effects than oral medications. Doctors have found that interferons in suppositories have a more effective effect and are absorbed better than conventional medications.

The suppositories can be used for a long time without having a negative effect on the body. In addition, they can be used together with antibacterial and hormonal drugs.

Let's name the most common candles for children:

• Polyoxidonium – can be used in children from 6 months;
• Viferon – used from birth, including premature and weakened children;
• Laferobion - antiviral and immunomodulatory suppositories, can be used at almost any age;
• Kipferon is a suppository used for colds and flu in both adults and children.

Children under 1 year are usually prescribed 1 suppository per day. After 1 year - 1 suppository in the morning and at night. However, such dosages are approximate and should be agreed upon with the doctor in each specific case.

How to boost a child's immunity using folk remedies?

Considering that most medical drugs have some side effects, many parents try to use folk remedies to treat their child. How to boost immunity with folk remedies for a child? There are several proven recipes.

1. Rosehip decoction is a wonderful remedy rich in vitamin C. To prepare the decoction, you will need 250 g of rose hips, 100 g of sugar and 1000 ml of water. Pour water over the berries and put on the fire. Boil on low heat for 15-20 minutes, at the end add sugar and stir. Cover with a lid and let the decoction brew. Strain. This decoction can be drunk by a child at the rate of at least 10 ml per 1 kg of weight per day.
2. Recipe for older children (10 years and older) – take 6 small cloves of garlic and 100 ml of honey (preferably linden or buckwheat). Press the garlic and mix with honey. Let it sit for 7 days. After that, you can give the child 1 teaspoon of the mixture during meals, at least three times a day.
3. Grind equal parts of raisins, walnuts and lemon in a meat grinder. Add honey. Give the child 2 teaspoons three times a day.

Allow your child to walk barefoot more, and not only on the floor at home, but also on grass, sand, pebbles. Give your child the opportunity to move, run, play more, especially in the fresh air, in the park, in nature. Active, mobile children get sick less often than those who sit at home all day, in front of the TV or computer.

Herbs that boost immunity in children

What herbs that boost immunity can be used in children? First of all, you need to watch the child's reaction: if he doesn't like the decoction you've prepared, don't force it on him. Try making another one, with honey or your favorite jam. You should also watch carefully to see if your baby is allergic to plants. To do this, don't give a large amount of medicine at once. Increase the dose slowly, watching your baby and examining his skin. And don't forget to consult a doctor.

• Birch bud decoction: pour 100 ml of boiling water over half a tablespoon of buds, leave for 1 hour, filter. Offer to the child three times a day after meals.
• Elderflower: Infuse 1 tbsp of flower in 200 ml of boiling water for an hour. Filter. Drink this infusion before bed.
• Melissa leaves: pour 400 ml of boiling water over 3 tbsp of leaves, leave for half an hour, filter. Take the infusion before meals, 3-4 times a day.
• Currant leaves: pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1 tbsp of leaves, leave for one and a half to two hours, filter. Offer to the child throughout the day, preferably half an hour before meals.

After meals, it is recommended to give children any decoction of plants such as chamomile, calendula or mint. This simple method can disinfect the oral cavity, the child's throat, and also increase his immune defense.

In search of a way to boost a child's immunity, you can resort to different methods. However, you should not self-medicate, especially when it comes to infants. Do not hesitate to consult a specialist for any reason, because your child's health is at stake.