What should I do if my child has low immunity?

In life, there are some children who are not prone to illness. Even if they often appear in an environment full of bacteria and viruses, they are still not prone to illness. This shows that children’s immunity is very strong. Of course, on the contrary, there are some children who are always prone to illness and give people a sickly feeling, which means that the child’s immunity is very poor. So, what should we do if our children have low immunity?

1. Drink more water

The moistness of the respiratory mucosa is related to how much water the child drinks. Drinking more water can help children's bodies resist the invasion of viruses and bacteria. A child weighing 36 kg (about 80 pounds) should drink 2000 ml of water every day (250 ml of water for every 10 pounds of body weight). Water is the source of life. Drinking more water is good for health. Parents should make their children aware of the importance of drinking water. Parents can have their baby bring a kettle with them when they go out or go to kindergarten, and always have a bottle of water ready in the car. They can also require their children to drink water with dinner, so that drinking water becomes a habit for their children. And even if the water is accidentally spilled, the clothes will not get dirty.

2. Don’t overemphasize cleanliness

The immune system has immune memory against infectious pathogens, and when encountering the same pathogen again, the immune system can quickly eliminate it. If parents overemphasize cleanliness of the home, it will reduce the chances of children being infected with pathogens and the immune system forming memories and producing antibodies, which will lead to weakened resistance and may even cause immune disorders and allergic reactions in severe cases.

The World Health Organization has also issued a statement that if cleaning products with antibacterial effects are used, it will increase the drug resistance of the microbial population. The American Medical Association also recommends that people reduce the use of cleaning products with antibacterial functions, because these cleaning products will instead reduce the drug sensitivity of microorganisms and enhance the resistance of microbial bacteria. Generally speaking, people can achieve the cleaning effect by washing with water and soap.

3. Make washing your hands a habit

Washing hands is one of the good hygiene habits that children must develop. Parents should let their children develop basic hygiene habits, such as washing hands before eating and after going to the toilet, so as to prevent children from having diarrhea or urinary tract infections.

4. Get enough sleep

If children get less sleep, the number of T cells in their bodies will gradually decrease. These cells are the "mortal enemies" of tumors and viruses, so children will naturally be more susceptible to illness.

Some experts point out that children need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep a day as they grow. If your child does not get enough sleep at night, you can let him or her take a nap during the day.

5. Discuss the body’s ability to heal itself

Parents should let their children know more theoretical knowledge about the body's self-healing ability. When a child has symptoms such as abrasions or colds, parents can observe the recovery speed with the child. This way your child won't become overly dependent on the medication and can allow the body to heal on its own.

In 2000, the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting also published a study showing that if parents of children with chronic diseases frequently discuss the illness with their children and point out that their children are too weak, it will make the children more irritable.