Why is my son always ill?

[Bristoluser]

19 years old, first year at university and he's getting cold after cold. Honestly don't know how to help him and what to advise?

Can anyone give any suggestions?

Sambucol
Hand washing

What's sambucol?

Multivits, paracetamol, fluids and yes, hand washing.
He’ll live! Common colds are back with a vengeance, it’s just every day home care isn't it.

Up until now has he generally been fairly healthy? It could be a mega dose of “freshers’ flu” potentially- lots of students tend to get ill in their first term.
It might be worth checking he has a regular intake of immunity-boosting vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, magnesium, zinc etc.
I hope he gets on ok.

It’s a bit like toddlers starting nursery, it’s very normal and that’s without how bad this year has been for bugs. You could tell him to shun nights out and fast food in favour of staying home with a lovingly homemade dinner of veggies but realistically hand washing, daily multivitamin and keeping cold supplies in (painkillers, strepsils etc) is about it!

Vitamin c

Lack of sleep
Lack of decent food
Mixing with loads of new people.

My DD has been similar.

Think it's fairly standard at 1st my dc had several bad colds this term. Feed him up over Xmas, send him back with multi vitamins.

Hi OP
I've noted that those that try to avoid flu etc and keep very clean can be vicitims of often being not well

Tell him not to worry too much, laugh as much as poss, take vits, eat foods rich in iron etc. But before doing that a quick blood test as often these days vit D can fall low as people are often inside most of the time and see how it goes.

You can wash your hands as much as you want - won't stop a cold as it's in the air.

Has your son had covid? It can really run your system down so you're easily open to other infections.

Wear a good quality mask to stop spread (of any airborne virus). Plenty of good sleep, vitamins C & D and warming, nutritious soups.

Echinacea!!!!

• Wearing a mask
• A dab of vaseline/hay fever balm/vicks around nostrils
• Not touching his face

might help

DS1 who is 24 has been ill constantly since April. Colds, sore throats, exhaustion, nausea, fatigue, flu, covid, chest infection, it's been never ending and has had a detrimental effect on his general mood, he is so fed up of feeling sick all the time.

This is a healthy, active young man who hasn't been sick ever since he was 10yrs old.

He has been checked over, had bloods done, taken time off work, had all his covid jabs and apparently there's nothing wrong with him. The best the Drs can offer is 'Post Viral'.

You could ask him to see gp just to exclude a few things with simple tests?

Sounds completely normal for a fresher and twas ever thus! He's young - he'll be absolutely fine. His only mistake is to keep telling you about it!

Mould and damp in uni accommodation (if he's living in them)?
It was the cause for me - usually never sick, then constantly sick, really bad coughs and colds, all stopped when I moved out and into mould free accommodation.

We have had 1.5 years of being locked away and/or having much of our behaviours restricted. Our bodies normally fight off these bugs because we have decades of tolerance built up. New ones emerge and we get ill. Problem is we had a piece of cloth over our gobs for well over a year and so we are now experiencing the consequences.

Remember, it is a cold. It isn't like he is dying (though if he is anything like me he will seem like he is!)

Google it, fabulous stuff

This is just a load of woo. Absolute rubbish.

You are confusing the hygiene hypothesis with viral and bacterial infections and listening to bogus FB "experts".