August 04, 2022
How to Build Your Child's Immunity
If you are struggling with your child's frequent bouts of infections, read on as Dr Kanika Sabharwal, a homoeopathic doctor with an MD in Paediatrics, gives pointers on how to prevent and recover from them holistically.
'Tis the season where kids fall sick often. Add a school reopening to the mix; it's the perfect setting for bacterial and viral infection transmissions in children. It is often around this time the word 'immunity' gets thrown around a lot in parent conversations.
In this article, we speak to Dr Kanika Sabharwal, a homoeopathic doctor with an MD in Paediatrics, about the different ways to build a strong immune system in children.
Q: What is an immune system? How do infections and diseases affect children differently?
A: To put it simply, the immune system fights the infections in your child's body. Every child is built differently; the same goes for different immune systems. It is a combination of factors – ranging from genetic make-up and physical build to immunity and reactivity to viruses – that decide how a child is affected by an acute infection and if at all. This is why your little one catches an infection if another child in their classroom is unwell.
Q: Can we prevent infections? If so, how can this be done?
Some measures can be taken to help prevent respiratory, gastro-intestinal, and mosquito-borne infections in your little one:
- Ensure water is clean and safe (boil if unsure).
- Wash fruits & vegetables thoroughly.
- Keep all food covered.
- Avoid stagnant water around the house.
- Include citrus, nuts, turmeric & yoghurt in meals.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes (sun to AC).
"The best way to be on the recovery path:
REST, HYDRATE, and EAT RIGHT."
Q: You mentioned some foods in the above precautionary measures. What does food have to do with immunity?
A: Nutrient means that which nourishes. There are two types of nutrients: macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). These help in growth and development of the body and provide energy for various functions. Each nutrient has a specific action and thus the need for a balanced diet that incorporates all.
Q: What are some foods that help with recovery? How are they helpful?
There are many foods that boost recovery. These aim at reducing inflammation and adding protein.
Q: Sometimes kids tend to stop food intake when they fall sick. Why is this?
A: There are two important reasons for a sharp drop in appetite when your child is unwell: one is the release of certain chemicals (cytokines) that are a part of the inflammation process and the second is just to conserve energy. Digesting food involves expending energy and the body tries to conserve that to fight the infection.
Q: What probiotic food helps the GI tract recover quickly?
A: Prebiotics comes before probiotics. Prebiotics act as food for the gut bacteria that help with digestion. These include foods such as whole grains, bananas, greens, onions, garlic. Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve the 'good' bacteria in the body, such as yoghurt.
Q: How can we build immunity for a child's long-term health?
A: Immunity is built with a good balance of adequate hydration, a well-balanced nutritious diet, refreshing sleep, moderate exercise, and mental well-being (which includes 'me' time and playtime for children). Specific foods to build immunity include flax seeds, berries, ginger, turmeric, yoghurt, dates, whole grains, dry fruits, and nuts.