Your child’s immunity: How to guard against winter germs

Colds and flu are a fact of life for kids, so they say.

According to Leigh Callipolitis on behalf of iNova Pharmaceuticals, we are all born with an inexperienced immune system and by battling various germs and viruses as we grow, we develop better immunity.

She said this is why many paediatricians consider six to eight colds per year quite normal.

“We all know how easily germs can spread between family members. What’s more, the school environment seems to be one of the main ways that germs circulate within communities.”

She added this is not only because school children are in close contact with each other, but also because a child’s immune system is less mature than that of an adult, so they are naturally more susceptible to germs.

“It also doesn’t help that younger children may have habits that further spread germs such as sticking fingers and objects into their mouths.

Winter is fast approaching, and this is when germs are generally more common.

“This is in part because we spend more time indoors and in close proximity to each other, as well as the fact that the viruses that cause the common cold to spread more easily in cold, dry air. Our nasal passages are also drier, allowing cold viruses to generally make us sicker than they do during warmer months.”

Leigh said having a sick child is no fun for any parent or child, so here are some healthy habits you can adopt to boost your child’s immunity this winter (and all year round):

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States recommended that everyone six months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine each year.

• Including certain health foods in your children’s diet can help strengthen their immune system and help prevent colds and flu.

• Oily fish such as salmon and fresh tuna, for example, contain omega 3 fatty acids which have many health benefits. White fish (such as hake) also contains some omega 3, although in smaller doses. Try to include fish in your child’s diet twice a week.

• Eating different fruits and vegetables, ideally five a day, especially red, yellow and orange varieties which contain more vitamin C and carotenoids, can help the body create more white blood cells to fight infection.

• Sleep is also very important. Lack of sleep can make children more susceptible to illness by reducing the natural killer cells that help the immune system fight infection. Ideally toddlers should have up to 13 hours of sleep per day, and three- to 12-year-olds up to 12 hours per day. Research also shows that exercise can increase the number of these natural killer cells in both adults and children.

• Reducing stress levels in children is also important as high levels of stress in a family can undermine a child’s immune system, making it easier for viruses and bacteria to take effect.

• Other good habits to teach our children to help protect them from germs and illness at school include washing hands regularly and teaching our children about germ etiquette such as covering coughs and sneezes to prevent spreading infection.

• Although our kids should ideally get all their immune-boosting vitamins and minerals from food, we all know that in reality this is difficult – especially with fussy eaters.

• There are a range of products that can increase immunity and help to keep colds and flu at bay.

“Remember that although more common in winter, children can get a cold any time of year, so keep up the immune-boosting good habits all year round.”