A child that is always sick

[Sylwia]

Ever since my child started pre-k she has always been sick. Every month she is on antibiotics. I don't know what to do. I went to a specialist and he said everything is fine. Since September it's been the same problem every month either strept throat or sinus. She just got strept throat 7 days ago and is taking antibiotics with only three days left, today her ear started hurting and shes been caughing.  Does anyone know a way to help her get better and to boost her immune system or have any other suggestions to help her? Thank you.

[ny2125]

does she get fevers too?  

[tiredbuthappy]

i've worked in pre-k for years, and what you describe is normal. the kids who started as infants and toddlers rarely got sick by the time they were in prescool/pre-k, but those who started at 4 and 5 were constantly sick that first year.

when i started teaching pre-k i got sick every 2 weeks, literally. after the first year i almost never got sick.

as for helping her get better and preventing it as best you can, the best thing you can do is teach her proper hygiene. keeping fingers out of her nose, mouth, etc... and washing hands after coming inside, before and after eating, etc... also, make sure your ped isn't to quick to dish out antibiotics. many of these bugs just need to run their course, and current research indicates that most mild ear infections don't need antibiotics either. if she receives too many courses of antibiotics she can become prone to worse infections later on.

[Mickiedr]

you might try giving her probiotics, after shes off anitbiotics, you can find them in health food stores, whole foods, etc...when a child takes a lot of antibiotics sometimes they have a difficult time making the good biotics again.