What if the child has weak immunity?


Good parents want to know what to do if the child has weak immunity. They seek to protect their children from infectious diseases, inflammatory and allergic reactions. So that the child's body becomes resistant to harmful substances, parents must follow certain measures.

A few words about the immune system.

The immune system protects the child's body from harmful substances and infections. The largest organ of this system is the gastrointestinal tract. It contains, in comparison with other organs, an unprecedented number of lymphocytes (white blood cells, which are responsible for resisting the infection of each person). This is because the intestine is particularly vulnerable to the penetration of foreign substances into the body from the external world, called antigens. A newborn baby does not yet contain antigens. But from the first days of life the immune system learns to react to various substances with which the child comes into contact. This creates an immunological memory in the body that allows the body to determine individual antigens. However, before the memory is fully "loaded", we must try our best to strengthen the resistance of the child to infections. In the neonatal period, significant functions to protect the immunity of the child performs breastfeeding. Because the mother's milk has antibacterial properties, in consequence of which it protects against infection, and also promotes the development of appropriate resistance mechanisms.

Breastfeeding supports immune memory.

It is very important for weak immunity the role of lymphocytes. They participate in the creation of antibodies, which react to foreign substances in the child's body. Antibodies are transmitted with breast milk. It is through the action of antibodies in the nutrients of milk that the body begins to fight microbes. The mother's immune memory is, as it were, transmitted to the child. The balance between containment mechanisms and an active immune response protects the child from infections and allergies. The lack of balance and the low level of "recognition" of irritants in the early stages of children's lives contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, infections and allergies. This situation often occurs with artificial feeding. In this regard, I would like to emphasize once again the important role of breastfeeding, which contributes to the formation of adequate immune memory. Breast milk helps to provide the child with resistance from external influences, which reduces the risk of acute and chronic infections and diseases, such as diarrhea or respiratory infections.

Provision of sufficient energy.

Proper nutrition of your child affects the development of immune function. However, this is not the main task of nutrition. First of all, food is a source of energy. Therefore, only those qualitative composition of food are important, but also its sufficient quantity. A child, especially at an early age, should be fed. Cellular tissues are particularly sensitive to inadequate supplies of food. They lack energy for growth and development.

By the way, and the future mother during pregnancy should not starve. Malnutrition, especially in the second to third month of pregnancy, has a disastrous effect on fetal development and may have far-reaching negative consequences. Subsequently, energy shortages during infancy and early childhood can lead to serious health problems. Such as the gradual disappearance of one of the glands - namely the thymus gland. This phenomenon is very dangerous, because the thymus - before puberty - is mainly responsible for the immune system and controls the number of lymphocytes.

Proper nutrition of the child begins in the womb. Unfortunately, improper intrauterine development as a result of a lack of nutrients constantly reduces the resistance of children. This can even lead to premature death of the child. Thus, every woman who expects a child should strictly follow a balanced diet, providing the fetus with all the necessary nutrients.

Nutrients that increase resistance to disease.

Can we now easily identify the nutritional components that affect the immune status of the child? In the process of metabolism, an important role is played by one of the amino acids of glutamic acid. It promotes the formation of nucleic acids, which directly affects the synthesis of proteins in the body. And also allows excretion of ammonia from the body through the kidneys. Glutamine is also a source of energy for cells, and this can explain its predominant role in immune processes. Nevertheless, further research is needed to better understand the role of glutamine in ensuring the viability of children. Especially with weak immunity.

The possibility of enriching the diet with another amino acid is studied - it is argenine. As studies show, the use of arginine in nutrition in low birth weight infants - significantly reduces the chance of necrotic enterocolitis.

Another very important component of nutrition - long-chain polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids. Obtained from fish oil Omega-3 fatty acids are used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. But they can also help treat acute inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis or respiratory distress syndrome.

Parents should remember that almost all components of nutrition play an important role in maintaining the proper state of the child's immunity. For this reason, both malnutrition and excessive food intake can have adverse consequences. Throughout the world, medical research is under way, which shows that the immune status of children is lower in those parts of the world where too little protein, iron, vitamins A and E and zinc are consumed.

The role of prebiotics and probiotics.

In our time, there has been an increased interest in the medical problems of strengthening the immune system, by influencing the intestinal microflora. This can be achieved in two ways: 1. By enriching the baby's diet with prebiotics - nutrients that are not digested; 2. And probiotics - living microorganisms of human origin, which have the properties of adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells.

The sample of the prebiotic in breast milk is oligosaccharides. It is possible that they do not allow bacteria to join the intestinal epithelial cells, affecting the increase in immunity of the child during breastfeeding. Experiments were also carried out with probiotics.

It turned out that they reduce the incidence of diarrhea in young children. Very promising are the results of the study, which examined a group of probiotic pregnant women, originating from families with a hereditary risk of allergic diseases. Due to probiotics, the prevalence of allergic dermatitis has significantly decreased in 6-month-old children.

What to do if a child with weak immunity develops an infection? Of course, treat. But it is much easier to prevent the disease. Already in the first months of pregnancy the mother should pay close attention to her nutrition and health. Do not abuse alcohol, tobacco and diets for weight loss (there are also such grief-mothers). Follow all doctor's recommendations. And after the birth of the child, by no means of his own free will not give up breastfeeding, for the sake of preserving the figure! After all, breast milk is not only a source of energy and nutrients. It contains valuable substances that provide the baby with strong immunity. It has long been noted that children nurtured on artificial milk grow physically much weaker and are more often sick than children who have grown up in breast milk.