My brother's kids are always sick. Cough, cold, etc. They live in a new home in FLA. What is up with that?

Question

Is it the house, the state, their parents, or their pediatrician? If my kid were thhat sick - I'd freak and do environmental testing as well as allergen tests, but they just feed them antibiotics and move on. I knew a sickly child who actually got sick from the antibiotics, that's pretty scary. Or is it just that some kids just get sick alot?

Answer 1

You don't say how old the kids are and whether they got sick in their old house. If they are only getting sick now that they're in their new house, I agree with you about testing the environment. Rug cleaners can be toxic among other things. If they've always been sickly, are they young, say under 7? Kids that age tend to get sick more often, since they're around other kids a lot, and their immune systems haven't quite caught up. They shouldn't be on antibiotics unless that have a bacterial infection, like strep throat or pneumonia. I hope the pediatrician doesn't dole them out for simple viral infections. If that's the case, they should change doctors. Also -- a few simple things that cut WAY down on sickness in our house, was boiling toothbrushes periodically and not sharing toothbrushes.

Answer 2

I guess it depends on what you'd call "always sick". Is it more than every three months? Are their illnesses infectious? (As in green snot, deep rattling coughs that produce lots of phelgm, or just a runny nose and maybe a cough from nasal drip)

If the house is new, it could be the carpeting (even though it's new, a good deep cleaning will help get rid of toxins), it could be the paint fumes, or even fumes from hardwood floors that have been sealed.

I'd say first look around outside for unfamiliar plants upwind from the a/c unit. If you find one, rub a bit of leaf on the child's arm and see if it gets a red patch (it's called cheap allergy testing lol). If none of the above is applicable, I'd have the kids tested for allergies, especially those pertaining to chemicals in the house.

If it's not allergies, and they are getting sick all the time still, I'd review the kids habits of keeping clean. Are they washing their hands often enough? Do they rub antibacterial goo on their hands before they eat in the play area at the local McDonald's? Are they taking baths together? Do they get enough sunshine everyday?

Good luck, sometimes it's hard to figure out what's wrong with them without a medical degree, but every mother knows you have to be the kid's doctor too :)

Answer 3

I agree, I would be concerned too. If one of the kids gets sick it does go through the whole house. I'd get the the house checked for mold. I know someone who was having a lot of health problems from it. Feeding kids antibiotics constantly is not a good thing, time for a new doc too. Also, this seems so simple, but they all need to wash their hands frequently. Bleach door knobs, handles, etc.

Answer 4

Being Florida, I'd say it's allergies not colds. Too much humidity and too much pine pollen.

When I was a kid, I was snotting and sneezing all the time. And that stuff drains into your lungs and makes you cough too. We had so much pine tree pollen where we lived, it would make like a thin paste and flow down the street when we had a hard rain.

Answer 5

It is probably allergies, I live in Florida and there is always something to set them off, I agree that they should be careful about the antibiotics. Maybe they could try some Benadryl.

Answer 6

Some parents just aren't that bright. Scary thought since almost anyone can be a parent.

Answer 7

HUMIDITY IN A TROPICAL CLIMATE IF THEY WERE UP NORTH THEN THEIR BODIES ARE ADJUSTING TO THAT AREA
I GREW UP THERE BUT HAD SOME SLIGHT DIFFICULTY BUT GREW OUT OF IT ALLERGIES VS BLOOD
WINTER VS. SUMMER
IF YA GET MY MEANING JUST GIVE EM TIME YOU'LL SEE