Sick a lot... is this normal?

[proud_canadian]

I know kids get sick a lot. But my friend has a son that seems to be an extreme case. He started daycare at a year when his mom went back to work and since then has been constantly sick (he was sickly before, but way worse the last year). And not just sniffles, but extreme sickness, pneumonia three times, hospitalization for kidney infection, high high fevers, etc. In the past two months he has had, RSV, pneumonia, diarrhea bug, vomiting bug, and three colds. He is honestly never healthy for more than a few days, maybe a week. The doctor just keeps brushing her off saying “kids are sick a lot”. But to me, this seems extreme, and that he needs some further testing. Anyone have similar experiences or know of similar situations. Could it be nothing, or should she be worried?

 

[htmom]

Well I had a "sick kid". He had a lot of problems with croup then asthma issues. He has pretty much grown out of it. But it sounds like this kiddo gets all kinds of things! Poor little guy. I think if it were me I would take him for a consult with a different pediatrician. Just to be sure everything is OK.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I was actually that way as a kid. They did a lot of bloodwork and discovered my immune system was terrible. I got immune-booster shots and a vitamin regimen. It did help. However the immune-booster shots were derived from blood cells (this was the early 80's) and I think they stopped making the shots due to the rise of HIV. I actually had to be tested for HIV because I had the shots. So it is possible to have a bad immune system, and they might have some newer, safer treatments available.

 

[JanaDee]

I know kids get sick a lot. But my friend has a son that seems to be an extreme case. He started daycare at a year when his mom went back to work and since then has been constantly sick (he was sickly before, but way worse the last year). And not just sniffles, but extreme sickness, pneumonia three times, hospitalization for kidney infection, high high fevers, etc. In the past two months he has had, RSV, pneumonia, diarrhea bug, vomiting bug, and three colds. He is honestly never healthy for more than a few days, maybe a week. The doctor just keeps brushing her off saying “kids are sick a lot”. But to me, this seems extreme, and that he needs some further testing. Anyone have similar experiences or know of similar situations. Could it be nothing, or should she be worried?

No, it isn't normal. Are either of the parents a smoker?

 

[Disneylover99]

It sounds like they need to get him out of daycare.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

I have a friend and her son was a preemie and he does get sick a lot. So I think it just depends on the background history of the child.

 

[proud_canadian]

parents are non smokers and he was not a preemie...

Thanks, I didn't think it was normal either, but not sure what tests he needs or what could be wrong.

He is already on probiotics and the parents always wash his hands before eating etc. He is just over 2 years old.

 

[htmom]

I've been thinking since I replied earlier. I would suppose when he was hospitalized before he had all kinds of blood work taken. I think if I were her I would stay on top of him eating healthy, getting fresh air etc.

 

[Gracie09]

It sounds like they need to get him out of daycare.

This. Dd was the sick kid. RSV ( hospitalized for a week with that), coxsacki, multiple ear infections that never cleared up. She started day care in January when she was about six months old. She left in April. She had one week where she made all five days. Almost as soon as we took her out she was fine. Had two bad respiratory infections (one pneumonia) but other wise nothing. When she went back to school last year I figured she would again be the sick kid. Nope. She had no sick days the entire year.

Maybe see if she can take him out for a month or so and let his body fully recover:

 

[richmo]

That does sound a bit more than normal. I remember both of my kids getting into a three week cycle in daycare where they'd be fine, then get sick (usually ear infection), sometimes go on antibiotics, get better, then start the cycle again.

By the time they hit grade school, I guess their immune system must have really built up as they both averaged less than one or two days off a year and my daughter had perfect attendance thru her entire high school years.

 

[JanaDee]

parents are non smokers and he was not a preemie...

Thanks, I didn't think it was normal either, but not sure what tests he needs or what could be wrong.

He is already on probiotics and the parents always wash his hands before eating etc. He is just over 2 years old.

I agree with others. She needs to get him out of daycare.

 

[Jaime4004]

This. Dd was the sick kid. RSV ( hospitalized for a week with that), coxsacki, multiple ear infections that never cleared up. She started day care in January when she was about six months old. She left in April. She had one week where she made all five days. Almost as soon as we took her out she was fine. Had two bad respiratory infections (one pneumonia) but other wise nothing. When she went back to school last year I figured she would again be the sick kid. Nope. She had no sick days the entire year.

Maybe see if she can take him out for a month or so and let his body fully recover:

Yup. Mine was forever sick as an infant in daycare. Also included rotavirus and whooping cough. However, after surviving that first year or so, he's very rarely sick 7 years later.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids weren't in daycare, but my twins, with 3 older siblings bringing home every bug from preschool and elementary school, were sick from October to May, with never more than a week between illnesses.

Now, none of my kids are sick - got it all out of the way! Stomach bugs, rota virus, coxsackie, fifth's disease, roseola, tons of strep, lots of ear infections, pink eye, sinus infections, croup... I hated winter!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know kids get sick a lot. But my friend has a son that seems to be an extreme case. He started daycare at a year when his mom went back to work and since then has been constantly sick (he was sickly before, but way worse the last year). And not just sniffles, but extreme sickness, pneumonia three times, hospitalization for kidney infection, high high fevers, etc. In the past two months he has had, RSV, pneumonia, diarrhea bug, vomiting bug, and three colds. He is honestly never healthy for more than a few days, maybe a week. The doctor just keeps brushing her off saying “kids are sick a lot”. But to me, this seems extreme, and that he needs some further testing. Anyone have similar experiences or know of similar situations. Could it be nothing, or should she be worried?

Yes my own kids. They drive me up the wall.

One has asthma, one has a repaired heart defect.

In all fairness it takes forever to "get well" from pneumonia. You are weakened and if people are sick around you, you catch it unfortunately.

I do agree that daycare is probably not a good thing for him at the moment but I am sure she has no choice.

 

[cluvsdisney]

My sister was like that when she was little. My mother was home with us, so no daycare, but she was sick all the time. It finally leveled out when she had her tonsils out.

Is your friend concerned? Has she taken him to a different doctor to get a fresh opinion on all the illnesses?

 

[soccerdad72]

My nephew, who hasn't been in a daycare a day in his life, is sick all the time. I don't necessarily think daycare is always the issue when it comes to sick kids. Some kids just get sick more often than others.

 

[Cantw8]

What about families that need to have both parents work, making day care a necessity? You can't just zip kids up in a plastic bubble and not expose them to things What do you do with these children when they are school age? Not send them? Home school? Web school?

 

[quandrea]

This. Dd was the sick kid. RSV ( hospitalized for a week with that), coxsacki, multiple ear infections that never cleared up. She started day care in January when she was about six months old. She left in April. She had one week where she made all five days. Almost as soon as we took her out she was fine. Had two bad respiratory infections (one pneumonia) but other wise nothing. When she went back to school last year I figured she would again be the sick kid. Nope. She had no sick days the entire year.

Maybe see if she can take him out for a month or so and let his body fully recover:

We did this last December. My three yo twins had been sick constantly since September. My son has asthma and he'd get better, go back and be sick within a day. I pulled them out early December after we all got the flu. Did wonders. We all got well and had a better winter.

 

[quandrea]

My kids weren't in daycare, but my twins, with 3 older siblings bringing home every bug from preschool and elementary school, were sick from October to May, with never more than a week between illnesses.

Now, none of my kids are sick - got it all out of the way! Stomach bugs, rota virus, coxsackie, fifth's disease, roseola, tons of strep, lots of ear infections, pink eye, sinus infections, croup... I hated winter!

This is my life now.

 

[HM]

Gosh, I contemplated quitting my job when my son (2) got multiple ear infections after starting at a daycare and my daughter (6m) started to get sick. I luckily found someone to take care of them at my home for the same price (she brought her baby with her) and they were never sick other than an very-occasional cold after that. If I were that parent, I'd have him out of daycare tomorrow and see what happens.