Ask the Expert Series: Should I be worried if my child gets sick too often

Thank you for sharing your concerns here. It sounds disheartening when your little one’s school teacher tells you that your baby seems to be the only one with a runny nose and cough. Please take heart that you are not the only parent who feels this way. Your question of home remedies / methods to help ease this would come in 2 forms: 1) prevention; to encourage hand hygiene as part of play, this way it does not take away your baby’s joy of childhood. I would strongly recommend completing her vaccinations. Having a well balanced diet makes a difference for the little ones too. 2) Remedies for the common cold in our climate and weather include symptomatic relief such as a humidified room or dust-free environment can help lessen your baby’s exposure to elements that would lead to the common coughs and cold. There are common over-the-counter medications that can provide symptom relief for them too, without causing reliance or harm. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Dear Cindy, thank you for sharing about your little girl. The immune system in children takes time to develop, ideally, they should be as healthy as adults once they reach 2 years old. Until then, prevention helps; encourage hand hygiene as part of play, this way it does not take away your baby’s joy of childhood. I would strongly recommend completing her vaccinations. Having a well balanced diet makes a difference for the little ones too. Vitamin C and sunshine, which is a natural source of Vitamin D, both helps to boost the immune system too. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Thank you for your question. It sounds like you and your 3 year old have gone through a lot together. Do not be disheartened, this is a common response from many parents too. Usually, children will recover fairly quickly from the common coughs and colds. A good gauge would be their energy and activity levels. However, if there are persistent or worsening symptoms, I would recommend a clinic visit with your family doctor. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Thank you for sharing your concerns here. There is a phrase “terrible-twos”, this stage of childhood is starts from around 12 months, up to 4 years of age. This can be in the form of tantrums, loving the word ‘NO’, and possibly being a fussy eater. One suggestion would be to have meals together, because toddlers love to emulate their parents. Having meals together as a family, making mealtime enjoyable can help your child accept and be more receptive to a variety of foods gradually. Regarding your question, I would respect the decision of the parent, at the same time, provide support and resources for the parents to be well informed of the various forms of food available to ensure a healthy child. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Thank you for sharing your experience and your daughter’s condition. Febrile seizures are seen in children less than 6 years old, because the brain has yet to mature and fully develop. During an illness or fever, their-yet-to-mature system can lead to seizures. Most seizures are short and will stop spontaneously. It is important to remain calm and lie the child on a flat surface, having their head turned to the side. After a seizure, children then to be tired and sleep. I would recommend a clinic visit with your family doctor after the seizure to ensure that there are no other concerning conditions. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Dear Luna Mum, thank you for sharing the difficulty you and baby are facing. It sounds tough going for mummy and baby. If baby has been on medications for 2 weeks, and baby’s symptoms are persistent or has worsened, I would recommend a clinic visit with your family doctor. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Dear Anna, thank you for sharing about your 2 year old. The immune system in children takes time to develop, ideally, they should be as healthy as adults once they reach 2 years old. Until then, prevention helps; encourage hand hygiene as part of play, this way it does not take away your baby’s joy of childhood. I would strongly recommend completing her vaccinations. Having a well balanced diet makes a difference for the little ones too. Vitamin C and sunshine, which is a natural source of Vitamin D, both helps to boost the immune system too. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Dear Vindis Choice, thank you for sharing about your naughty little heart throb. The immune system in children takes time to develop, ideally, they should be as healthy as adults once they reach 2 years old. Until then, prevention helps; encourage hand hygiene as part of play, this way it does not take away your baby’s joy of childhood. I would strongly recommend completing his vaccinations. Having a well balanced diet makes a difference for the little ones too. Vitamin C and sunshine, which is a natural source of Vitamin D, both helps to boost the immune system too. I hope this helps address your concerns.

Dear Teena, thank you for sharing your concerns. Fever is concerning. If baby is frequently having a body temperature of more than 38degC, without symptoms, I would recommend a clinic visit with your family doctor to assess for any concerning conditions. I hope this helps address your concerns.