15 Month Old Sick Since Thanksgiving. . .Help!

Dear A.,

There is a traditional Chinese herbal formula that we acupuncturists use to strengthen the respiratory immune system. It is available in capsule form, and for a very young child the capsules could be opened up and the granules spread over his food. This is a tremendous bolster to the immune system...when it is taken regularly throughout the winter months, one tends to remain totally free of colds and flus. And in a case like your son's, it could fast-forward his recovery. Please feel free to call me for more info, ###-###-####.
Best to you,
S. I., L.Ac.

Oh dear! You must be sick with worry! My son was also really sick when he was about two. He had a bad cough from November all the way through January. It kept him, and me, up at night. I think there was some stomach flu in there too at some point.

Here's what happened. After weeks of complaining to the doctor on the phone and bringing him in to check what was going on the doctor perscribed a Flovent inhaler. I had been giving my son Albuterol liquid, and had already switched to an Albuterol inhaler. (The Albuterol just made him crazy.) The Flovent started working very quickly. In about a week his coughing had subsided. He still takes it twice a day and it keeps the asthma at bay.

Next, I switched to all organic food and natural cleaning products (like 7th generation or method, both of which you can purchase at Target) This probably sounds crazy, but I think my son was alergic to pesticides. Both my children started feeling better; their asthma and allergies decreased, colds stopped coming on monthly and their immunity was all around much better.

Finally I also switched to heatlh food store brands of vitamens for both kids. There is an immunity gummy bear vitamen sold at Whole Foods that includes echinacia, vitamen C, and Zinc. The same company also makes echinacia lolipops. They aren't cheap, but they really help during cold season.

I doubt any of these things will help overnight, but they will help in the long run! Good luck! I hope your little one gets better as the weather improves.

H.

Hi Mommy! I have 2 girls that have both been sick on and off since Thanksgiving as well (3.5 years and 20 mos). It is very frustrating, but also normal these days because of the number of stands of colds & flu that are out there and how long it takes for kids to get over things. I think that older siblings (or nephews) or parents can be carriers of things that maybe our immune system can handle but the little ones can't. To boost immunity I would recommend "Wellness Herbal Kids" that you can get at Whole Foods. My husband & I take the Wellness Formula and have for a long time during cold & flu season. The Wellness Herbal Kids is safe for ages 1-12. It is in liquid form and I just put it in with juice or water 1-3 times a day, depending on how my girls are doing. 1 time for immune maintenance and 3 times if they are sick. I really think it helps cut down on the severity & duration of colds. Hope this helps!

Hi, I have an 8 month and a 3 year who have both been sick with colds and the flu. My 8 month old ended up in the ER on an IV drip because she was dehydrated from vomiting, etc. for 5 days straight. One of my friends says a really bad bug is going around. My kids are in daycare and I am a teacher so be glad yours get to stay home during cold and flu season! I also remember right after my son, the 3 year old, turned 1 he was always sick!! He ended up having to get tubes in his ears at 16 months old. Hang in there!!!

I had the exact problem with my six year old at around the same time. Her pediatrician stated that each incident was probably different strains. I then became ill, once with the stomach flu and the second with a 10-day cold/cough. It is my opinion that I was a carrier before I had symptoms. It turns out that one of my co-workers had a bad case of strep throat and a stomach virus. She continued to come into work claiming it wasn't contagious. Five other individuals have gone home with the same symptoms as well. Maybe individuals around you or your husband are passing their germs/bacteria unknowingly.

I am experiencing this with my 11 month old. He has been sick since BEFORE Thanksgiving. We have not had a day yet with a dry nose. We have all been sick off and on. But no trips to the hospital Thank God! But I'm very frustrated. In my situation I think it may be because my 3.5 year old goes to preschool. Anyway, rest assured...you are not alone.

My son is only a little older than your son. He had a cold recently and a cough that continues to stick around. He too, is getting more teeth. As I am sure you already have, but the main thing you should do is santitze all of his toys and his brothers toys as well. Dump the ones you can in a bathtub of hot water and bleach. The others wipe off with bleach water and on you furniture spray lysol. Make sure you constantly teach him to wash his hands. The love to do that anyway. Another thing, I would suggest is getting him his own tube of tooth paste and another toothbrush. With the new toothbrush boil it once a week. Clean, door handles, cabinets, floors, everything at least once or twice a week. It sounds like a lot but thats what we do. Also, if you have carpet you may need to get it cleaned or take it up all together. It could be allergies. Best of luck to you. God bless.

Don't worry about it too much. Both my 3 yr old and my 10month old have had 2 bouts of stomach flu and 3 very bad colds since September. It's back to back to back.. We even got the stomach flu twice - I swear it was the same exact virus. There's a lot going around!

Patience, Patience, and Patience. That is all I can say. I went through the same thing when my son turned one. What I do suggest to make sure you get lab work done to rule out any food borne illnesses or other problems. Be persistent because I felt the doctor's were hesitant to do so and ruled out his illness as various viruses. It ended being a problem with his liver that still has not been resolved. I do feel for you and remember, it is nothing that you have done that has gotten your child sick.

Your son sounds like mine! I have found that he is sick endlessly (from November to March). We just started this new treatment. It is using Claritin and Benadryl on a daily basis along with an inhaled steroid (inhaled doesn't have the side effects). I never would have thought allergies could cause him to be sick but the treatment is working. He hasn't been sick.