Repeated illness

[StitchVic]

First time poster here but often found these forums useful for advice when kids are unwell. I’m not looking for medical advice here but just interested to know if anyone else’s children have been poorly a lot more often the last year or so?
DD2 has always been a sicklier child than DD1 but the last 12 months it has felt relentless. She’s had 6 different bugs which have caused her to feel pretty unwell. Each time she comes down with something she gets fevers and we just have to keep giving paracetamol/ibuprofen until she gets over it. No one else in the family is picking these bugs up. She’s got a bug at the moment- no symptoms other than fever and aches, and feeling crappy. The last one she had was literally only 2 weeks ago (although the others have been an average of 2-3 moths apart). She is almost 10 and I really thought she’d be over multiple bugs by now. DD1 has never been poorly as much as this, the worst thing she ever comes down with is a slight cold in winter. I can’t help fretting about the dreaded leukaemia. DH is less concerned and thinks it’s just a bad run of bugs and probably made worse by the lockdowns when DD2 was in year 1/2.

Anyone else had this issue? I know it’s common in toddlers but is it normal for a 9-10 year old??

During lockdown we saw a lot fewer random childhood bugs. Since the end, they have resurged with a vengeance.

Thanks for your reply. Thought we were over it as she felt better for a couple of days (although she still complained of a headache intermittently during that time) and fevers went away completely. However now the fever has returned again. My anxiety is starting to go through the roof. Anyone else’s children had illness like this?

I don't know if this is helpful but our son (14 y/o) has been having similar issues since March: 2 strong stomach bugs, the 5th disease, intermittent fevers with headaches, frequent hiccups, tiredness and constant colds. In the past 8 years he needed a doctor only twice (silly things), and in the past 6 months he needed it 5 times, and 3 weeks ago he ended up in ER with unexplained testicular pain. All his tests are fine and doctors keep telling us there is nothing wrong with him physically but that the Covid era and lockdown ruined our immune systems and some of us need to go through all the immunization process again. So yeah, for us it's like being back in day care :( They said that it will eventually get better but we are pretty worried, especially because it's affecting his social life and our jobs (we needed to stay home too many times in the past months).

He had those weird viruses where fever comes and goes but the blood tests didn't show anything concerning, they said it's just the way the virus works.

It feels hopeless, though. As you said, you would expect that at this age they don't get sick so often so it was totally unexpected for us! He's always been so strong and healthy!

Thanks for your reply. I’m sorry to hear you’re also going through it with your son. It sure does suck. DD is well again at the moment so keeping everything crossed that these viruses will become less and less. I know in the grand scheme of things that it might seem trivial to others, but as you’ve said it’s very frustrating for the poor child that keeps getting sick, as well as the fact that it impacts their life in terms of missing out on stuff, plus for us parents juggling work. I hope your son continues to be well. Let’s keep fingers crossed!

@StitchVic how is your daughter now? Was it just a bad run of bugs?

Yea. He was vitamin d deficiency and now is way less sick. Worth asking the GP for a blood test!

All good now thanks. I think it was just a bad run of bugs and I was over thinking it. Thank you for asking!