Autumn time = time of illness: How to protect your children now!

Autumn time = time of illness: How to protect your children now!

Munich/Berlin (dpa/tmn) - When the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, many parents are confronted with sad signs from their children: glassy eyes, a red nose and often a lot of whining. During the cold season, colds and other infections are not only likely, they are almost inevitable. Experience shows that preschool children can experience up to eight infections in a single season, says Prof. Marcus Krüger, head physician of the children's intensive care unit at the Munich Clinic Schwabing and Harlaching. This phenomenon will continue in the next few months.

The question that concerns many parents is: Why are so many children sick right now? An important explanation is that daily life often takes place indoors in colder weather. Pathogens are more easily transmitted there through the air. These pathogens, often viruses, are particularly stubborn for the first colds in small children, as their immune systems are confronted with these foreign substances.

How infections occur and their consequences for the immune system

Every confrontation with a pathogen, also known as an antigen, helps the child's organism to create a "blueprint" for the future use of antibodies. Repeated exposure allows the immune system to later respond more quickly and effectively to the same pathogens. Therefore, the consequences of infections may be milder with repeated contact. The daycare center is an ideal place for children to exchange ideas about different viruses. Here they come into contact with other children every day and thus strengthen their immune systems.

However, the most important thing for parents is how they can support their children, as well as themselves, during this time. There is no absolute protection against infection, but the immune system can be strengthened through sufficient exercise outdoors and a balanced diet. Vitamin C plays a supporting role - it is contained in many foods such as peppers, cabbage and citrus fruits.

Checking vaccination protection is another helpful step in preventing serious illnesses. In the cold season, in addition to harmless cold viruses, dangerous pathogens such as flu or measles viruses lurk. A sudden illness in the entire family could indicate serious pathogens that can be vaccinated against.

Tips for sick children

If your child does suffer from a respiratory infection, there are a few things parents should keep in mind. There is no miracle cure to speed up the disease and the course is usually predetermined. One of the most important measures is to provide the child with sufficient fluids - water or herbal teas are ideal.

Above all, parents should remain reassured if the child is temporarily not hungry. "It is normal for children to have less appetite when they are sick. Their body signals that eating is an additional burden," explains pediatrician Ulrich Fegeler. If the child still wants to eat something, easily digestible foods such as soups are a good choice.

When taking fever measures, it is less important to look at the exact temperature than to look at the child's general condition. “If it plays happily even though the temperature is 38.9 degrees, that is usually harmless,” says Krüger. However, if other symptoms of the disease occur, such as extreme restlessness or severe pain, fever-reducing measures in the form of medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen are the order of the day.

In critical cases, parents should be very attentive. If newborns show a fever, you should act quickly and see a doctor. Even if there is no improvement after administering fever reducers, a healthcare professional should be consulted. It's important to know that a cough, especially if it resembles the sound of a seal barking, can indicate a serious problem.

In the coming months, it is advisable to always prepare for the increasing number of infections and to deal as best as possible with the emerging challenges due to seasonal illnesses. Further information regarding effective procedures and support for colds can be found in the article on www.sueddeutsche.de be read.