immunity of their children
Protecting a child from illness or injury may be a difficult, or even impossible, task, especially at present. The child is exposed to many different diseases, and perhaps the most common of them are colds or influenza, which are related either to the weather and sometimes due to a weak immune system. But there are diseases caused by bad habits by parents and society, which reduce the weakening of immunity, and thus the child is vulnerable to any virus.
"Madam Net" met with a consultant for chest diseases and allergies in children at Dr. Soliman Fakih Hospital in Jeddah, with Dr. Muhammad Majid Barzanji, to tell us about the most important bad habits that reduce children''s immunity.
Initially, Dr. Muhammad explained that vaccination is a popular and effective way to protect children from diseases to help them live a healthy life, yet injection is not the only option, as the strength of the children''s immune system depends on the extent to which the mother takes care of herself and her child, and know that there is Some unhealthy bad habits that can weaken the child''s immunity and prevent the body from exercising its role in resisting various diseases. But we will also not forget the effect of the surrounding environment on our health, so how could the surrounding environment negatively or positively affect the health and immunity of our children? And what are the ways in which to boost the immune system of the child.
First: It is imperative to know what are the signs of weak immunity in a child
The child has been exposed to otitis media constantly or repeated every short period.
Feeling of constant fatigue, weakness, and weakness.
His face was pale, and he was anemic or anemic.
Poor appetite.
Exposure to frequent skin infections, such as rashes, boils, and pimples.
Repeated exposure of the child to colds, high fever, and diseases within a short period, so it does not pass for some days until the same disease or infection returns to him.
He was constantly exposed to gastrointestinal flu, ate clean food at home, or was only breastfeeding.
Inability to focus on studying and collecting his lessons.
Boost the child''s immune system
The environment in which the child is located, whether home or school
One of the factors affecting the strength of immunity is the sun and air. We are exposed to the sun at times that help our bodies benefit from the beneficial sunlight, before ten in the morning and after three in the afternoon. Doctors advise that children under six months of age not be exposed to the sun at all, but over 6 months, they can be exposed to the sun, with the need to use a suitable sunscreen for a period ranging from 5 to 10 minutes a day, and children over two years for a period of 20 minutes a day with the appropriate sunscreen.
Sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation has many disadvantages, including an increased chance of exposure to diseases. Parents must set a specific time for naps for their children. Newborn babies need up to 18 hours of sleep a day, and young children need about 12 hours of sleep.
• Increasing artificial colors in foodstuffs reduce the efficiency of the immune system
Some studies have shown that the frequent use of colored materials, whether natural or artificial, destroys red blood cells, reduces the efficiency of the immune system, and limits children''s benefit from food and their ability to take their lessons.
Rushing up the administration of antibiotics
If your child takes an antibiotic unnecessarily, his body will not respond to the same antibiotic if he then develops a bacterial infection that requires taking an antibiotic. Therefore, you should make sure each time that your child''s illness really requires medication, because the frequent use of antibiotics weakens the immune system.
The most important health habits
Get your children back to washing their hands before and after food.
If one of your children has the flu, you should get rid of the toothbrush that he used during the period of illness, because the virus may be transmitted from one brush to another or it may help to renew the role of influenza again for the same child.
American studies have shown that eating more fruits, vegetables, carrots, green beans, oranges, vitamin C and carotene, in addition to phytonutrients, produces white blood cells to fight infections and viruses.
