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Barb.b
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| Posted: Feb 13 2013 at 11:52am | IP Logged
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Is it true that your child needs to get sick to build immunity. My ds (10 yrs)goes to a science class that is home schooled. At the same place I send him 1-2 afternoons per week to play for about 1 hour with the kids there - a small place that has homeschool classes and a few after school public school kids when he is there to play 2 afternoons (only 1 hour each). ANYWAY - he has been sick with colds and such more then usual for him this year. The lady who runs the place (and a close friend) says that it because he is home schooled and there for at home a lot - it is actually good that he gets sick lately because he needs to in order to develop immunity.
Hope this makes sense - anyway - I said, "yes, but that doesn't mean people have to send their kids sick and just GIVE him a virus." KWIM?
I just have been googling and am starting to wonder if the adage that kids HAVE to be sick a lot when they are young to develop immunity really isn't true.
Me - I kept him home from science today because I just think it is rude to send a kid who is still coughing. Also, I am stopping the play dates 2 times per week there till AFTER spring break so we don't go out of town sick!
1. do you think this idea of kids have to get sick to develop immunity is true.2. if not - what do you say to someone who does. 3. if you send your kids to outside homeschool type classes and you see it is common for a couple of kids to show up when they are sick - do you say something.
Sorry if this post is rambling!
Barb
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Feb 13 2013 at 12:26pm | IP Logged
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No, it isn't true.
I think that studies may have shown at children raised in excessively sterile environments have weaker immune systems, but my home is certainly NOT that 
There is no reason you have to "get sick" to strengthen your immune system. For certain diseases to which you become immune, such as those commonly vaccinated against, you need to be exposed to build immunity to those particular viruses. But exposure is all that is needed. Not all who are exposed and develop immunity to those illnesses will get sick with them.
And as far as things necessary for a healthy immune system, many of those things can be supplemented (or avoided) and result in less sickness despite exposure. I don't think the exposure itself strengthens the immune system unless it is against those specific viruses that the body creates specific antibodies to fight. In fact, you are more likely to get sick with something else if your body is taxed with fighting a separate illness.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 13 2013 at 12:27pm | IP Logged
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Well you do have to be exposed to a virus to develop on immunity to that virus.
And so it is true that by being home we are exposed less than someone in school all day around hundreds of kids that may or may not be sick at any given time even with all the policies about not sending sick kids to school.
So it's not so much that kids have to get sick to develop immunity it's more that if they haven't been exposed then they're immune to fewer viruses than others who've had more exposure.
Does it mean it's good that he's developing immunity to more viruses this winter by getting sick from them?  Some people think so just because they're getting this young (but not too young) and recover easier. But new viruses will just come along anyway.
And it's no excuse for anyone to be going out in public sick.
Coughing may or may not expose someone to something contagious and depending on why.. well I know I coughed for months after having bronchitis but I wasn't sick and I wasn't contagious. So yes, sending sick kids to something is showing a lack of respect for others but coughing does not automatically = sick. Also realize that children with allergies or asthma may cough without having been sick at all.
Now there is lots you can do.. washing hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, using vitamins and herbs that help boost immunity and/or fight off viruses.
Also, I know that if you're not letting his immune system fully recover before the next exposure (which could happen with a class where, he gets sick, recovers enough that you're not exposing others but perhaps his immune system is still recovering so he gets sick easier with the next exposure instead of fighting it off.
As far as what to say.. I wouldn't argue.. but I would find out and be able to point out what the illness policy is for the school.
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Barb.b
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| Posted: Feb 13 2013 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
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One thing I found is - cold viruses mutate. Ever experienced in your house a cold virus making the rounds from person to person? By the time the last person gets it - sometime the first person to have it gets it. Thats because cold viruses mutate. So you CAN get a VERSION of the same virus. Thats why it is bunk that it a kid is boosting their immune system when they get sick. They say there are over 200 cold viruses. But the possibility is endless cause they all mutate! So, I just don't by the idea that my ds is getting sicker this year cause we've homeschooled and the other kids haven't or have been to more of the classes there. One reason I don't buy it is - the other kids are giving him the colds! If their immune systems were better off because they have been in kid group situations more - then they wouldn't be coming in sick!
Kind of a catch 22 I know - but hopefully you follow. ANYWAY - since she doesn't really have a don't come sick rule or doesn't follow up on it very well. I won't do the 2 times per week play dates and when I drop him for science I will hang around and if someone is OBVIOUSLY sick - then I will quietly leave with my ds. Kind of like a quiet message - it is the sick kids or us. If she wants us there - she will enforce some sort of don't come sick policy!
Barb
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cathhomeschool
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| Posted: Feb 15 2013 at 11:11am | IP Logged
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My older two were both raised in an excessively clean environment and were not exposed much to other kids. (We moved a lot when they were very small.) They rarely got sick when they were small. As they got older, the oldest got sick more easily, but our 2nd never did. I think it has more to do with immune system and genetics (or something interior, anyway) than any exposure. My younger two are much more "exposed" and #3 is sick more often while #4 rarely gets sick.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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3ringcircus
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| Posted: Feb 15 2013 at 5:00pm | IP Logged
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If I am correct, most school/daycare settings have a, "no fever/vomiting in the last 24hrs" policy. And, of course, no major communicable diseases. Other than that, it's pretty common practice to send kids places when they're on the mend from colds (i.e. residual coughing). I believe that the contagion is much lower at that point. He likely is getting sick from the other kids, but it's the ones that are going to come down w/ something a day or two after class that are getting him sick, because the contagion window begins before a conscientious mom would keep him away from his friends.
Are they taking precautions to help the kids avoid spreading germs? Cough/sneeze into inner elbow, use of kleenex directly into the trash, hand sanitizer?
Anything you can do to boost your DSs immunity? Appropriate rest, plenty of water, vitamins, etc.
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Christine
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: is it true. . . .
