Doctor explains why some kids 'always sick' with colds and when you should worry

25 January 2023 , 23:55

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A doctor has made it clear when parents should worry about their child getting sick (stock image) (Image: Getty Images/Westend61)

A doctor has explained the simple reason chiildren get frequently sick with coughs and colds and when parents should worry.

Reports of Strep A infections have heightened fears among some parents over when their children fall ill, but one doctor has attempted to reassure parents that children falling ill over the winter months is normal.

There have been 211 deaths across all age groups in England this flu season, with 30 of them children.

Concerns have also been raised over regular colds and flu with some children possibly experiencing a worse reaction than normal after the pandemic lockdowns.

Paediatrician Alasdair Munro said the winter is "particularly bad" for viruses and more frequent illnesses at this time of year is more likely.

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Doctor explains why some kids 'always sick' with colds and when you should worry

Paediatrician Alasdair Munro addressed the fears some parents may have (Alasdair Munro)

The doctor, a senior clinical research fellow in paediatric infectious diseases, also said Covid-19 causing immunodeficiency in children was a "bizarre myth" that emerged online.

He said: "Things seem particularly bad at the moment for several reasons. Winter is always a time where more of these viruses circulate, but this winter is particularly bad."

Respiratory tract infections can also seem alarming because of their nature, but this is also to be expected among young children as their immune systems are still developing.

After Covid, children are being exposed to viruses as they mix with other children.

"For a long period during the pandemic, many of these viruses stopped circulating altogether. Because so few people were catching them, there is less immunity among children - and indeed adults - then there would normally be, so more people are catching them now, including more children are catching them for the first time.

Covid-19 causing immunodeficiency in children was a "bizarre myth," Munro said (stock image) (Getty Images)

Munro wrote in The Munro Report, a newsletter about medical science and research, infectious diseases and children's health.

The expert added: "For the age group particularly prone to these viruses - children under five years - most or all of their lives has been lived during the pandemic period where substantially lower rates of these viruses have been circulating.

A lot of first exposures which might have otherwise happened over a few years are now happening within a much shorter timeframe."

Concerned parents should instead watch out for unusual reactions such as frequent hospitalisation and unusually severe infections.

"It is normal for young children to have lots and lots of viral respiratory infections," he said. "There are currently more viruses circulating than usual as young children have been relatively unexposed during the pandemic period and are encountering many of them for the first time.