dc constantly ill every winter- is this normal?

[nomoredrama]

Over the last four weeks my three dcs aged 11, 6 and 4 have all had (taking it in turns) tonsillitis followed a week later by a vomiting and diarrohea bug and now a flu-type bug with week-long high fevers and a hacking cough. Every winter it's the same, I dread whats ahead of me as we go into Autumn. I am so exhausted having broken sleep and being a permanent florence nightingale, not to mention the poor kids who are missing school (ok they are not as fussed about that as I am) but of course they get so miserable with the constant merry-go-round of illnesses that seems to go on in my house. Any tips from those with more robust families than mine? Do Ineed to start spraying my whole house in dettol anti-bac or is this the norm for a large family living in the UK's damp northern climes? If I dont reply straight away please don't be offended as I am prob attending to the sick and needy but any advice/reassurance would be most appreciated as I'm beginning to think I must be doing something seriously wrong...

Same here! Every winter (more this autumn in to winter term actually) they're ill and ill and ill again. Last year the little one (five at that time) took the lead and was ill nearly every week between half term and xmas while the older one (who turns 9 this week) only had a couple of things for once. This year the little one's already missed three days of school with tummy things and coughed for a fortnight after going back in September and the big one missed school Thursday and Friday last week and is still in the middle of the flu-ey coughing thing you mentioned. he also loves to spike the highest temperatures with the slightest provocation so that's always fun. I dread this time of year.

You might already do this but I stress the basics ...handwashing , no fingers / toys in mouths ( at play centres etc), Try to air the house daily , and then antibac door handles . Avoid crowded enclosed areas wherever poss and then I try to boost the immune system with fresh fruit and veg - fresh orange juice etc vitamins when they go on a veg strike and then when colds start echinacea ..no idea if it works or not but I try it anyway !

Same here with dd; every single wretched little thing...

I spoke to a specialist in immunology about it and he said some children just have late maturing immmune systems and there's not a lot you can do about it.

My db was like this too, but grew up to be a very healthy adult, so presumably his immune system got a lot of practice. My other db otoh was rarely ill as a child but gets a lot of infections as an adult- so perhaps his system wasn't exercised enough.

Ds has been ill all year on and off. Chickenpox now follwing 2 weeks of his sister having a tummy bug.

Its hellish and exhausting and he has so far missed 11 days of his first term at school and will be missing at least the rest of this week too.