5 Yr Old Has Been Sick for Almost 3 Months.

Did you child go to pre school Usually when a child first starts contact with lots of other kids his system has not built up all its immunities yet so he catchies everything. When my daugther started pre school, the first 6 months she caught everything. Then they build up an immune system and slowly the amount of sickdays go away.

It sounds as though his immune system could use a boost. If you live in the LA area I can recommend a great homeopathic store. Let me know

This is *fairly* common. We did preschool, but then were sick at least one week a month the entire year of kindergarten (the difference between 20 family's germs and 500 family's germs). The first 3 months though we were sick one week for every two. And when I say WE, I mean WE. WE got sick about half the time our son got sick. Even though hubby and I were both at university, exposed to thousands of "kids", & I was working in a hospital, exposed to thousands of sick adults. ((Incidentally, we thought we'd get a "pass" on the Kindergarten Funk, because we were exposed to so many things, but no. We were sick as often as everyone else. Pfui.))

First grade is supposed to be better, but you still get sick a lot. We started homeschooling in 1st grade (so you might THINK we'd be less sick), but since we were still around tons and tons of kids in classes and sports and at the park, we were STILL sick a lot... because THEY were in school, and parents have been conditioned to keep sending sick kids to school.

While our elementary school was really tolerant of absences (because you spend the first 2 years catching everything in sundry)... they were NOT tolerant of being late. (Does that make sense? "We'd rather you were not here at all rather then here for most of the day?")

Anyhow, our illness level went down 3 months in when I finally said "screw the policy" and let my son sleep himself out. Several of the families in K started doing this, with full-on teacher support. (SHE had over 35 years experience, and was thrilled that we were willing to mess with OUR schedules, in order to accommodate our children's needs, and bring them in rested, well, and ready to learn. We all got nasty letters from the school and district, but the teacher shielded us from their threats of x,y,&z. God, she was AMAZING. Yay! Mrs. Salmon!!) We were on time about half the time...but some mornings he slept until 9 or 10am. Read 13-14 hours of sleep some days, but the normal 11 about half the time. I mean, think about it: kids are not only under huge amounts of stress adjusting to an entirely new system, but then they're also doing the growth spurt thing, AND fighting off or recovering from every bug they keep being exposed to. I also kept him home the first day or two after he was "better" ... since a lot of physical activity (hello recess) will cause a relapse (the adrenalin system shuts down our immune response, allowing a cold/flu on the way out to get a toehold again). As well as to keep from being exposed to another new "bug" while his immune system is still recovering from the last one

While it sounds like you guys have been heavily hit this fall, what with all the normal childhood illnesses (and since so many people aren't vaccinating, he may also be fighting off the preventable ones, like measles... even if we've been vaccinated against them, we still catch them, we are just able to fight them off before they knock us flat with full on illness)... you've also had to deal with Influenza A (which is ordinarily a 2 week down, and/or the swine flu varient which is 6-10 days). Hint: If he didn't stay home for the full 10days to 2 weeks, he isn't "sick again" but still sick.

Anyhow... while it sounds like you guys have been heavily hit, it's also a fairly normal Kindergarten/1st grade woe... so it's *probably* not leukemia or an autoimmune disease. That said, if you're worried it's something more severe, ALWAYS feel free to take him in to the doc, well or sick, to discuss your concerns.

Is the teacher having the kids properly wash their hands ALL THE TIME?
Sounds like your little guy is having a tough time. Lots of kids don't start first grade until they are 7 years old - what's the rush? I trust "mother's intuition" - and if you think this is too much for his immune system - then take him out - or home school him for this year, and let him begin at first grade next year. Listen to your intuition, and don't let anyone make you feel guilty for a decision you make. You're the mom!

If he is sick, keep him home till he is better. Then send him back. My mother, who has been a nurse for thirty years, and a pub health nurse for 5 or 6, said the real reason for starting kids so early in school is they miss about half of it to start. As long as they stay in the same school, they eventually develope an immunity and do better, but it can be really tough to start. Push garlic and onions and good stuff like that...
Good luck
R.

Is this his first foray into school or daycare? I know that when my son was first in daycare he was sick constantly for the first few months. He started in November and I had no idea what cold and flu season meant until then!

It passes...the flu season ends, they build immunities...just encourage hand washing and eating well. You'll get through it!

-M

Ugh, so sorry to hear this. Welcome to school, your son's immune system is getting swamped. This happens to my younger son especially, but both my kids have already had two very harsh viruses in the first two months of school, and each missed a week, even the older one who is usually very healthy. Once they have been sick, their immune system stays weaker for a while, and they just can keep getting sick over and over. I would try some of the dietary/vitamin recommendations the other moms made, but if you are in public school, I would also consider homeschooling at least for a while, maybe the whole year, when some of the viruses tend to slow down a bit. Give his system a chance to recover and be away from constant exposure to so many viruses. If you need a place to start with homeschooling, I've done it in the past and can give you a referral of our old home school academy prinicpal, who is a wealth of information about homeschooling and how to get started.

We went through a similar experience with my son when he started kindergarten. Same thing ER, really high fevers and we did have to keep him out. He seemed fine and wanted to go even with a fever, but he really needed time for his body to rest. We did meet with an MD who is also a homeopath (I later became a homeopathy because of it) and he prescribed some homeopathic remedies like belladonna and gelsenium. He also gave us things to boost his immune system - simple things like vitamin c and medicinal mushrooms. We also started spraying Xlear in his nose to clear his sinuses. And the most important thing and the hardest when they are sick is good, healthy food. I kept him home for about 8 school days and picked up his homework. After that and doing what the doctor prescribed, he did some "lower" grade fevers 99.1, but then it finally went away. He also had Influenza A. There is also a homeopathic influenza that helps - I didn't know about it then - it's by boiron and I think Henry's and Whole Foods carry it.

Good luck!
D.

Dig deeper, and yes definately get him out of school. Request to see a specialist if the docs can't figure it out. He may have immune issues. Things linger, but the fever coming back is what is curious to me. He should not be at school with a fever!

My pediatrician recommended some immune boosters like vitamin D at 800 mg daily at least, elderberry juice (like Sambucol brand), and probiotics. Also Oscillococcinum for whenever they have the flu or one vial a day if they are exposed to the flu. Poor kid! Poor you! Good luck with everything.

Hi Suz -- sorry to hear that you and your son have had to go thru this. If your son never went to any preschool before kindergarten, I would say this is "relatively" normal. If he has, I'd say this is not normal. Even if this is his first school experience, it doesn't change the fact that his immune system is really really low right now. And that is why he is catching everything that is going on.

I know some people are recommmending probiotics. Personally, I think probiotics are good supplements, and they won't hurt. But they are not magical, and can't by themselves make your son healthier, especially if he is already sick a lot. So yes, give him probiotics if you haven't done so, but there are more to be done.

First ask the doctor to do any reasonable tests to see if he has any other underlining problems - asthma, allergy, etc. Ask for recommendations of ways to boost his immune.

Give him Vitamine C (500mg chewable kind) and multivitamin. Everyday.

If he is allergic to dust mites (stuffy when he wakes up, for example), cover his bedding with dust mite covers. Make sure his room is clean..

Try homeopathic approaches - for example, go see a pediatric chiropractor. A good chiropractor can adjust him, so that his sinus and immune system will improve.

Hand washing. Make sure he eats well, and get at least 11 hours of sleep.

Now that he's been on antiviral and antibiotics meds, his whole health is being dragged down. So when he is done with all the meds, do all that you can to keep him off those meds so his body has a chance to build up his immune.

I am not a doctor (wish I were), but I went thru similar situations as you and I've got to say, it is doing every good thing in moderation that seems to steer us to the right path finally. There was no one magic approach, at least not for us. Good luck. And yes, if you can keep him home for at least a few months (it's just kindergarten.. ), it may be helpful. But if you can't, just do your best. You will get thru this. Good luck!!

Take him out if you can! If you are home during the day, just let him stay home with you, buy some workbooks, educational computer games, do it yourself. Your child's health is most important at this time. I pulled my daughter out of preschool this year for the same reason. She was sick at home more than at school. I'm a nurse and I work 3-11pm, so she's with me and my 5 month old every day now and we are having a blast. And she hasn't been sick once since I pulled her. Listen to your motherly instincts on this one! Take care and keep a close eye on your baby!

Ask for a specialist. Keep on your doctor and be proactive. I don't want to scare you, but fevers can be symptoms of a lot of things, and you know your child better than the doctor does, if something is wrong, follow your instinct and INSIST on more tests. We have a very good and thoughrough pediatrician, Dr. Lawrence Menzer with Lakeside group, he is located right next to Valley Presbyterian Hospital...if you don't get the treatment you want, consider changing doctors. Good luck! I hope he feels better.

It sounds perfectly normal to me! I have a son in PreK (he's 5) and he is out more than he's there. He has asthma, so his illnesses draaaaaaaag on and on...the cough lasts forever! I am committed to keeping him in school this year, because i took him out of preschool last year, because of illness. He's been tested for EVERYTHING and he's normal, just catches every bug in school. Also, we worked on him keeping his hands away from his face and out of his mouth AND HANDWASHING constantly....this is so important, especially before eating and coming home from school.

I know it's tough, it's a long road...hang in there!

I would keep him out of school until he can stay well long enough for him to fully recover. Sounds like his immunity system is weak and need special care or rest. Be well!

Hello, When our now 31 year old daughter was in kindergarten and first grade, she kept getting strep throat.
I would get her onto antibiotics and as soon as she was off of them for more than three days, she would be sick again. Finally, I changed my doctor within my HMO and he decided to check her iron levels in her blood. Sure enough, she was anemic. She was put onto Ferinsol for a couple of weeks and after that, she was not sick anymore.
Good luck with your precious little boy.
K. K.

Something similar happened to my son at preschool, and our doctor did tell us to keep him out for a month to give him a chance to get strong again. He was four. I think when you go through this for this long it's time to give everyone in the family a break. It's only kindergarten.

I am not a Dr but to me it sounds like a Bacteria Infection. 2 of my friends daughter have been sick like that and they were both put in the hospital for at least 3 days. With a high fever like that it is scary.

I hope they figure out what is wrong.

K.
www.workathomeunited.com/extramoney4u

Which vaccines has he received in the past two to five months? What kind of vitamins has the doctor told you to take. There are several things that I would be doing:
1. Probiotics and quickly. Go to the health food store, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Henrys, and ask for one that is for kids. Does your son swallow pills?
2. Vitamin D3 (the three is the most important part and don't assume the milk has enough, not the right kind and milk is not good for someone that is sick). My kids get a liquid form that I put in a drink. A mininum of 1,000 mg twice a day and if they are feeling sick or we want to prevent something I bump it up to 4,000 mg to 6,000 mg for a few days.
3. Tamiflu is toxic. I would be adding in some antioxidants (C, E, some A, some K) and Vitamin B12.
4. What is causing the inflammation? Has the doctor done a complete viral panel? This is when they check for titers, measurements of viruses and antibodies. Also, a food panel allergy BLOOD test (not the prick the skin all over and make the kid so miserable and it doesn't even catch the problem ones).
5. Remove all dairy from the diet and do not replace it with soy. Replace with Almond, Hemp, Rice (rice being the least nutritious).

Hang in there Suz. Hugs. I've been there too many times with my babies now 13 1/2 and almost 16 and we still have a few more battles to go.

So sorry to hear your little guy isn't feeling well.

Definitely start giving him probiotics. Eliminate refined sugar from his diet. Have him eat lots of protein, veggies and fruit.

My daughter is very healthy, but last year we had her in an art class and she was getting sick every couple of weeks. While I know this was helping her build immunity, it was a real pain, I was tired of having a sick kid, and she was missing out on so much, being sick so often. I pulled her out.

Might be a good idea to pull him out of school, but I understand this may be a very drastic measure for some.

Start pumping him with probiotics (go to Henry's or Whole Foods and ask for kids products), 125 mg. vit. C a day, and a multi. Probiotics are needed for the system to get back to normal after taking any antibiotics. Ask the person at the health food store how they work or google them. They will help a child/adult from getting repeated colds, infections. Good luck!!

It sounds like his immune system is having some trouble recovering. Are you supplementing with vitamins? Try vitamin D (I know a good brand if you're interested) to shield his immune system and coconut oil (has to be organic virgin expeller pressed) a few times a day for the anti-viral properties. I give it to my kids by the 1/2 tsp sprinkled with succant a few times a day when they are sick for a more rapid recovery.

Best of luck,

J. B