➤ Immunity medications for children - which options to choose?

How to boost your child's immunity

The human body has several organs that protect health. They form an immune system that counteracts viruses, bacteria, and poisons. Special substances – antibodies – do this job. When a child's immune system is weakened, the following appear:

drowsiness;
frequent illnesses;
weakness;
fast fatiguability;
dysbacteriosis;
allergies.

In children, the development of immunity has features that depend on age:

In the first month of a baby's life, it is transmitted from the mother. At an early stage, the main protection of a newborn is breast milk.
Starting from the fourth month, there is a danger of intestinal infections, respiratory diseases, and food allergies. The effect of the mother's antibodies on the baby ends. Vaccination required.
At the age of two, active exploration of the world begins. It is important to strengthen the immune system in children, because at this time they are faced with a huge number of viruses.

Own defenses begin to be developed from the age of 4. The immunity acquired from vaccinations is supplemented by that acquired during past infections. During this period, it is important to treat illnesses as chronic diseases develop. The immune system is finally built up during puberty, when hormonal changes occur.

Parents can help develop protection against diseases at any age. How to strengthen a child's immunity? This requires an integrated approach:

carry out hardening;
take vitamins;
organize proper nutrition;
ensure healthy sleep;
get vaccinated;
take vitamin supplements;
take immunomodulators;
walk for at least 4 hours.

How to strengthen a child’s immunity by hardening

Hardening plays an important role in strengthening the immune system in children. There are two types of procedures - air and water. The first one recommends:

maintain the room temperature no higher than 18;
sleep with the window open;
do exercises outside;
sunbathing in summer;
run barefoot on grass, sand;
carry out air baths with a minimum of clothing;
to walk alot.

How to strengthen a child’s immunity with water procedures? This issue must be approached carefully, observing the following conditions:

children must be healthy at the start of classes;
you need the attitude not to be afraid of procedures, but to enjoy it;
constantly increase the difference in water temperature during contrast dousing;
classes to strengthen protection should be carried out every day at a certain time.

We strengthen the child’s immunity with water procedures starting at a temperature of 30, gradually reducing it. Everything must be done in stages. Over time, the temperature difference should be increased to 20. The procedures are carried out sequentially:

wiping with cool water using a towel or sponge;
dousing the hands at a contrasting temperature;
using warm and cold showers;
going barefoot in the snow;
winter swimming

How to boost your child’s immunity with proper nutrition

Nutrition plays a special role in strengthening the immune system in children. Parents should be aware of foods that reduce defenses. It is unacceptable to give him chips, fast food, or sweet soda. It is necessary to exclude from the diet foods prepared by frying and foods that reduce immunity:

cow's milk is a strong allergen;
sugar, which destroys microflora;
canned food;
marinades;
sausages, sausages.

How to support your child’s immunity with proper nutrition? The menu should contain products containing proteins, minerals, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates. You should include in your home diet:

vegetables - zucchini, cauliflower, peppers;
fruits - pears, citrus fruits, cranberries;
dairy products;
fish;
lean meat;
beans, peas;
cereals;
eggs;
raisins, prunes;
Rye bread;
cheese.

Strengthening immunity with vaccination

Doctors have developed a special schedule according to which children from a certain age are required to receive vaccinations. After vaccination, artificial immunity is developed. There is a lot of discussion around the question of whether to vaccinate or not. One thing is clear - children who have strengthened their immunity through vaccination get sick less often, and if it does happen, they tolerate the disease much easier.

Vitamins to help the immune system

In order for the immune system to repel the attack of viruses, it needs to stock up on vitamins and microelements. First, let us remember that minerals and vitamins are not formed in the human body, it receives them from the outside. Vitamins that directly affect immune function include: vitamins C, A, E, D and group B. Many studies have been conducted on these vitamins and their role in improving the functioning of the immune system has been proven. The role of minerals is no less significant. There are 5 essential minerals for immunity:

Zinc
Iron
Selenium
Magnesium
Copper

Children especially need these substances during the active growth phase. It is extremely difficult to obtain all this variety in the required quantities from food, therefore, in the assortment of any pharmacy there are many complexes designed specifically for children for every taste and color.

These are syrups, chewing gummies, dragees, tablets, drops, etc.

A complex of vitamins to boost immunity depending on age

How to strengthen a child's immunity

It is very important for parents to prepare for winter and spring, when the child often gets sick due to hypothermia. Increasing your defenses depends on many factors. Effective are:

compliance with the regime;
healthy sleep;
eliminating stress in children;
active games, sports;
elimination of overheating;
taking vitamins;
taking medication to strengthen the immune system;
use of folk remedies.

Vitamins for immunity

Complex preparations containing microelements and vitamins help strengthen the body’s defenses. They protect children from infections and promote the production of antibodies. With their participation, immune cells are protected from destruction. The following tools are popular:

Pikovit;
Multi-tabs;
Alphabet;
Vitrum Kids;
Kinder Biovital;
VitaBears;
Grovit;
Fish fat;
Multivitamol.

Pharmaceutical preparations for immunity

Preparations made from natural herbal ingredients can be purchased in pharmacies. This includes alcohol tinctures, which pediatricians prescribe for children, starting with a few drops, to test the drug for allergies. The drug is diluted with water. The following tinctures are effective:

echinacea;
Eleutherococcus;
ginseng.

Imunorix is a modern remedy for strengthening the immune system in children over 3 years of age. Due to its mechanism of action, it can be used in both adults and children, mainly for the prevention of respiratory tract infections and exacerbations in patients suffering from obstructive pulmonary diseases. The drug has pronounced immunomodulatory activity, which can improve the clinical condition of patients with respiratory infections, strengthen and stimulate the functions of their immune cells, affecting adaptive and innate immunity, in particular against viral agents, and prevent complications of acute respiratory viral infections.

Immunity pills

Among medications, children are prescribed tablets to strengthen their defenses, taking into account their age, body condition, and disease. They help a lot:

for viral diseases - Cycloferon, Grippferon;
for infants - Anaferon, Arbidol;
based on natural substances - Echinacea Dr. Theis, Immunal;
against bacteria – Imudon, IRS-19;
homeopathic medicines – Aflubin, Mucosa Compositum.

Folk remedies to boost immunity

It is better to start preparing to eliminate winter colds in the fall. How to strengthen a child’s immunity with folk remedies? The most affordable is rosehip decoction prepared in a thermos. Traditional medicine recommends its use from infancy. It is effective to drink propolis infusion. For preparation:

take 30 g of propolis;
pour in a glass of water;
soak in a water bath for an hour.

You can support weak immunity with the help of black elderberry flowers. Place a spoonful of dry substance in a glass of boiling water. After 15 minutes you can drink, but it is better to do it at night. Herbal tea works well; to prepare it, add a spoonful of the mixture to a cup of boiling water. Drink several times a day. According to the recipe, the mixture includes in proportions:

nettle – 2:
lingonberries – 2;
rosehip – 3.

How to restore immunity after illness

If a child has been sick for a long time, the parents’ first priority is to prevent re-infection. You need to stop visiting places with large crowds of people for a while. If someone at home has not yet recovered, limit the child’s contact with him and wear a bandage. To increase immunity during this period, the following are important:

long walks;
taking vitamins;
proper nutrition;
long sleep;
positive emotions;
restoration of microflora if antibiotics were taken.

How to strengthen your child’s immunity before kindergarten

An important period in a child’s life—the beginning of kindergarten—is often accompanied by colds and viral infections. Strengthening the immune system in children at this age is of particular importance. It is recommended to take general strengthening measures in advance:

start hardening;
do exercises in a ventilated room;
limit sugar consumption by replacing it with dried fruits;
sleep 10 hours;
exercise;
give the opportunity to move more, communicate with peers;
feed properly;
create a cheerful mood for the child;
teach how to brush your teeth and wash your hands.

“How to strengthen a child’s immunity” consultation on the topic

How to strengthen your child's immunity

All parents sooner or later have many questions about immunity, I would like to write some notes for parents.

Firstly, if children get sick in early and preschool age, this is normal, in this way they, as it were, train their immune system to fight the harmful effects of the environment (these are viruses, bacteria, protozoa, some antigens of non-biological origin). You should start to worry about a decrease in immunity when a pediatrician or immunologist has classified your child in the group of “frequently and/or long-term ill children.” The term “frequently ill children” (FIC) is used to describe children who frequently suffer from acute respiratory diseases (ARI). Currently, this category includes children suffering from acute respiratory infections:

- under the age of 1 year more than 4 times a year,

- aged 1 to 5 years - 5-6 per year,

- at an older age - more than 4 diseases per year.

The group of “long-term ill children” consists of children who have acute respiratory diseases (but not bronchitis and pneumonia) lasting more than 10-14 days. If your child does not meet these criteria, then we are not talking about a decrease in immunity.

Secondly, if you really need to strengthen your immune system, then please remember that this is a long-term process, and the approach to treatment is complex. If you start strengthening your immune system, don’t expect results in a week or even a month. Almost all drug treatment regimens are designed for a minimum of 3 months, and optimally for 6 months.

So, now for specific recommendations. I want to start with non-drug remedies, which are quite simple and accessible to everyone (and most importantly, unlike drugs, they have practically no contraindications).

Strengthening immunity in children is facilitated by:

1. Mother's milk, in other words, breastfeeding. Unfortunately, in Russia, even up to six months, a small percentage of women breastfeed their children (about 30%), and up to two years and beyond, this is almost a rarity. Any mother has the opportunity to feed her baby breast milk for as long as possible, the main thing is properly organized breastfeeding. The percentage of women who have a true lack of milk is negligible (less than 1%), everything else is reluctance or inability to feed. It is very important to feed for a long time and wean the baby only when he is ready for it. It is important to know that it is not recommended to stop breastfeeding in the summer, including due to the additional danger of intestinal diseases. If you were unable to stop feeding in the spring, then it is now better to wait at least until September

2. Compliance with the daily routine, with mandatory allocation of time for rest and sleep, and for children - mandatory daytime sleep. In the evening, the child should be in bed, preferably no later than 22:00.

3. Hardening the throat (drinking cool drinks, eating ice cream). Of course, extreme caution is needed here; you need to accustom your child’s throat to cool food gradually and carefully. You can start at about 2-3 years old, and drinks should be at room temperature, every two or three days we lower the temperature by a degree. We give the child melted ice cream in a plate, gradually accustoming him to less and less melted ice cream.

4. Hygiene of the nasal cavity, mouth and throat: you can begin to rinse your mouth and throat with cool water in the morning after sleep and in the evening before bed, after each meal. the nose can be washed with a slightly salted solution (available in pharmacies under the names Salin, Marimer, Aqualor, Aquamaris, etc.).

5. General hardening of the body: rubbing with a wet towel, dousing with cold water, contrast shower, gymnastics, swimming pool. Moreover, you can practice hardening from the very first days of life, at the end of bathing, pouring water from a ladle over the baby, in which you gradually lower the temperature. This procedure has a beneficial effect not only on the immune system, but also on all other systems of the body.

6. Clothing must be appropriate for the ambient temperature. You only need to dress your child in one layer more than yourself, otherwise overheating cannot be avoided, and this also negatively affects the immune system.

It's good to start taking a multivitamin for children. You can take a monthly course, but before taking it you should still consult with your doctor which complex is most suitable for you. Freshly squeezed juices, fruit drinks, herbal infusions are also an excellent remedy.

Immunostimulants are drugs that stimulate the body's defenses (immunity). They must be used with caution.

1. Eleutherococcus. In almost every pharmacy you can find “Natural Syrup with Eleutherococcus”. The syrup has a tonic and general strengthening agent. How to use: take 1-2 teaspoons 2-3 times a day as an addition to tea or other drinks.

But: The drug has the property of increasing blood pressure. People with hypertension should not use it.

2. Ginseng tincture. Like Eleutherococcus, it increases blood pressure. But in the absence of contraindications, it perfectly strengthens the immune system.

Immunomodulators are drugs and drugs that enhance the body’s immune response to viral or bacterial attacks:

Garlic. A folk remedy that has been tried for centuries. If you don’t mind the smell of garlic, then you can smell it and eat it (separately or as part of dishes). The biggest advantage of this method: no contraindications.

Sodium deoxyribonucleate. Preparations based on it are available in the form of nasal drops. They increase the production of interferons in the child’s body, effectively eliminating pathogens. Reduces the likelihood of illness even during seasonal epidemics of colds and ARVI.

The drug is approved for use from the first child. Contraindications include only very rare individual intolerance.

And only then, if none of the above has the desired effect, you need medication regimens that are selected by the doctor.