missing school

[loosinas]

i think this might be a bit off topic here but i really need some help. my son has had such a bad winter health wise. hes asthmatic but hes just ill all the time. hes off school aain today and i hate him missing school. im just wondering if anyone has some advice on keeping them healthy.. he gets a chewy vitamin every day and a yakult style drink as well. any other ideas/ general advice ?

Don't worry too much. My sons teacher told me in reception that loads of children are off alot. They pick up all sorts of viruses and bugs and they have yet to build up antibodies to them. It is very common.

Loosinas. Both me and ds2 were exactly the same as your ds and it lasted throughout primary. Now there are inhalers and drugs to help though, not in my case. What I would advise is not so much finding ways to keep him healthy I think mrsscoob was right there, but speak to school about work at home. I had learning difficulties that I think may have been helped if I had received work at home for all the times I was ill. Not suggesting your ds will have ld but he could fall behind and find it hard to catch up. (My ds2's experience) Your ds's teacher will be able to tell you any weak areas your ds may have or what he has missed when absent. I hope this helps as I know how worrying and debilitating asthma can be.

Zinc is apparently very good for the immune system. You can buy this in a little bottle and just put the appropriate number of drops into a juice.

dont worry dd started reception in january and has yet to manage to do 2 full weeks in a row (fingers crossed we are now on week 2), we have had the standard letters saying her attendance is not up to scratch but i just ignore them, its not like we are keeping her off for every cough, but since jan she has had constant throat and chest infections (seems to be her weekness) she has had 5 lots of antibiotics and every time she goes back to school in a few days she is back to coughing sneezing, losing her voice, when i spoke to the head teacher she said that this winter has been particularly bad for illness....but like you said i dont think any of us like them to miss so much school

@ loosinas

I'd check out factors in your home as the next step. Do you have damp? Do you have pets? Do you have carpets/ vacuum regularly? Does anyone smoke?

IMO the best things you can do is ensure he gets enough good quality sleep, make sure he's eating healthily and make sure he's exercising regularly.

If his asthma is keeping him awake at night, then you need to see the GP. Does he have a blue inhaler? He might also need an orange / brown one too. These are steroid inhalers, and prevent asthma attacks, rather than relieve ones like the blue inhalers.

It has been an awful winter here too. Between myself and my dd we have had almost permanent colds since October. I think it has been because it has been so mild and damp, nothing has been able to kill off the bugs.

My dd does not have asthma but I do, so I sympathise. I would not worry too much about lost schooling. The school sound very understanding. Maybe get him some extra work if he is not feeling too rough?

Basically when either myself or dd have been bad, we rest, drink loads of water and juice plus a multi vit. Also one thing i have found is a little fresh air. Sounds crazy when you have a cold on your chest, but personnally it really helps my asthma. Obviously you need to protect the throat and chest, but i have found the central heating a real killer for me. I have been taking Yakault too and it seems to have helped a little. I hope he gets better soon.

Roll on summer is all I can say!

thanks so much guys :) where can i get the zinc drops sixp ?
we have laminate floors everywhere and his room isnt damp.
hes sleping well but his diet is not the best.. hes fussy so he gets few veg :(