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Children's health

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Aargh! DD2 sick AGAIN. Is it her? Or the worst winter ever?

9 replies

sunshineunderhill · 08/02/2011 21:41

DD2 (17 months old) has had one virus after another since November. Today she has had her second bout of vomiting in 2 weeks, which started with yet another cold and chesty cough. All her colds tend to end up as very wet-sounding coughs. I've taken her to the GP twice with these - once we were given antibiotics which made her nauseous and miserable, but had no discernible effect on her cough, the next time he more sensibly said it's a virus but gave us an inhaler with a mask in case her breathing got too laboured (we haven't used it). DD1 (4.9) meanwhile has been in perfect health all winter, save a couple of snotty noses and a sore throat. Anecdotally there does seem to be a lot of sickness this winter, with friends reporting their DC getting ill more often than other years. But does this explain DD2 or is there an underlying health issue that I need to start looking for? Certainly DD1 was never ill so constantly and relentlessly, though she has probably had all the same bugs, just more spaced out.. I guess I'm fretting because the poor mite never seems to have more than one or two well days in an row, and this must be affecting her relationship with the world. She's not getting to go to many drop-ins or play sessions (they frown on obviously sick toddlers smearing their snot about the place), and even the park can be too much when the weather's really poor and she's feeling really miserable. Are all toddlers going through this this winter? Or is it some second-child-gets-all-the-bugs syndrome? Or is it time to drag her to the GP? Advice please x x

OP posts:
3timesalady · 09/02/2011 09:38

Sounds like she has a low immune system - I'd personally take her for a check-up at the GP and ask for her bloods to be checked for low levels of white blood cells. It is normal for kids to get ill, of course, but I don't like the sound of it when she's not got enough energy etc for the park.

Not to worry you, but a chat with a kind GP will work wonders I think.

Saltire · 09/02/2011 09:43

I've got a mindee who, since mid November has had a permanently snotty nose, temperatures coughs sneezes etcv. of course we all have them too, I haven't felt well since I had a chest infection back in October!
At DS2's school tehre has ben at least 10 children off every week sicne before Christmas with various froms of colds/ear infection/flu etc

notnowbernard · 09/02/2011 09:46

I think it's been a bad winter

FWIW I have had your situation but in reverse - a couple of Winters ago it was DC1 who was permanently ill with something and DC2 who sailed through with the odd sniffle

Some kids are more resilient to illness, I think

washngo · 09/02/2011 09:53

Your older daughter might have had more opportunity to develop her immune system over the years and so might (at present) be a bit more resilient. Hopefully your younger dd will build it up and have a better winter next year (that's what I tell myself about my two snuffly under 3s).

dribbleface · 09/02/2011 13:04

My DS was like that last year, it was relentless. Not sure if it helped or is just one of those things but we started him on boots multivitamins syrup and give it religiously every day. This year he has been better than ever before but this could just be because he is getting older.

I was at my wits end. My friends Ds has been like that this year.

I work in a nursery and this year we have seen more ill children so do think there are a lot of bugs around at the moment.

I second the chat with the GP - it can't hurt and they will be able to give you a good idea if its just a bad winter.

mummytomatildaandrose · 09/02/2011 16:41

You could try giving some doses of acidophillus to build up the natural defences that the antibiotics will have taken away. Also try giving your child some children's vitamins. I had this with my DD1 in the winter of '09-'10. She had 3 lots of antibiotics in a row and it just destroyed her. So I gave her the acidophillus in her milk once a day and she snapped back pretty quickly. You can get the acidophillus from Bio care www.biocare.co.uk/default.aspx?GroupGuid=196

You can get the vitamins from www.vit-shop.co.uk/store/p/2335/1/Floradix-Kindervital-formula-for-children-500ml.html

chitchatingagain · 10/02/2011 08:54

This sounds like my DS2! I suspect DS1 either catches mild forms from nursery or just brings home the bugs. I've just started giving them both Minadex, a tonic with some vitamins and minerals, to hopefully boost their immunity.

ChablisLover · 10/02/2011 09:10

we've had a winter of constantly running noses and hacking coughs made worse by asthma.

Even the school have commented - feel like an awful mother but have done everything in my power to make him better. It just seems that he gets better and a few weeks later another cold/viral infection (as the doctor loves to call them) strikes.

Am thinking of a vitamin supplement as well.

Someone also mentioned Paradox fish oil - omega babies & Toddlers

sunshineunderhill · 10/02/2011 10:28

I gave DD2 probiotics during and after the antibiotics, and they both have a few drops of Animal Parade children's multivitamins and iron in their water/splash of juice mix every day. I am a coeliac (auto immune intolerance to gluten) so, although she doesn't exhibit strong symptoms of coeliac's disease, I guess it might be worth getting bloods done at the GPs, see if she's low on anything.. Though it does sound like it is a particularly buggy year all round.. Thanks for all your messages x x

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