Causes of reduced resistance in children

The immune system is the body's defense barrier against invading agents such as viruses, parasites, bacteria. A healthy immune system will help the child's body to repel the invasion of pathogens from the outside thanks to the effect of increasing B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte proliferation.
Children's immune system deficiency is divided into 2 main causes including: primary immunodeficiency and secondary immunodeficiency.
Primary immunodeficiency: due to genetic defects, lymphoproliferative disorders and impaired function of B and T lymphocytes. Phagocytic system defects, complement disorders or children suffering from diseases such as red blood cell anemia, malnutrition, diabetes, etc. also make children immunocompromised. Secondary immunodeficiency: often occurs due to external causes such as X-rays, glucocorticoid treatment, surgical intervention or trauma.

Whether the child's resistance is healthy or not is partly due to the mother's genetics during pregnancy and lactation. The mother's resistance will be passed on to her baby, including resistance, survival, adaptability to the environment, antibodies against pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. ,...

Children live in a dusty, unhealthy environment and are often exposed to chemicals, smoke and pollution, which will cause their lungs to become contaminated. Thereby, preventing T-lymphocytes that lead to respiratory infections in children. In addition, cigarette smoke is one of the leading causes of reduced resistance in children. Because tobacco contains more than 4000 harmful substances, including nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and many other carcinogens. When children inhale tobacco smoke regularly, these toxins will enter the body, causing changes in immune function and thereby reducing resistance in children.

During the first years of a baby's life, breast milk is a rich source of nutrients. Moreover, breast milk also contains a large amount of antibodies that help children strengthen their resistance effectively. If in the first 6 months of life, the mother gives the baby a small amount of breast milk, it will make the child's resistance to be reduced and susceptible to infections.
Besides, young children will have periods of anorexia. At these times, if parents do not take measures to provide adequate nutrients for children, it is easy to lead to infections caused by bacteria or viruses. In addition, many parents fear that their children will be infected when going out, so they always let their children stay indoors without contacting the surrounding environment. It is this that affects the intellectual development and physical activity of children, and at the same time causes a decline in the immune system due to a lack of vitamin D synthesis. Children will be more susceptible to illness and weakness, especially when the weather changes.

Many parents when their children are sick often buy antibiotics for their children to take. However, antibiotics often have two sides to it, both killing harmful bacteria and killing beneficial bacteria inside the body. Besides, the self-purchase of drugs also makes the treatment for the wrong purpose and not the right cause of the disease. From there, the child will be more susceptible to relapse and reduce the ability to fight bacteria and viruses.

Many parents often place high expectations on their children, which inadvertently causes stress on children's learning. At that time, estrogen and testosterone levels are also reduced, leading to hormonal imbalance, thereby making the immune system decrease and resistance weak, the child's body is no longer able to fight pathogens. Therefore, parents need to balance between learning and playing, giving children relaxation and rest without creating stress or placing a lot of pressure and expectations on children.
In short, resistance plays an important role in the development of children and is the barrier that protects the body from the risk of diseases from the outside environment. One of the common causes of decreased resistance in children such as impaired immunity, polluted environment or parental care,... Therefore, to strengthen the child's resistance, fathers Mothers need to take effective preventive measures such as fully immunized with vaccines, maintain a reasonable diet for children by supplementing 4 important nutrient groups, and at the same time supplementing with necessary micronutrients. : Zinc, selenium, chromium, vitamins B1 and B6, ginger, acerola fruit extract (vitamin C), ... to improve taste, eat well, achieve height, weight in accordance with and exceed standards, immune system good epidemic, strengthen resistance to less minor illness and less digestive problems.
Also according to leading nutrition experts, parents need to be calm and persistent when supplementing with nutrients for children, even through eating or functional foods. In particular, the use of functional foods should choose those of natural origin that are easily absorbed, do not allow simultaneous use of many types or continuously change the types of functional foods. Besides, nutritionists also emphasize on the role of biological zinc; Parents should learn and supplement zinc for children properly at the appropriate time, to avoid zinc deficiency affecting the comprehensive development of children.
In addition to zinc, parents also need to supplement their children with other important vitamins and minerals such as lysine, chromium, B vitamins,... errands.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.