Home remedies and tips to manage frequent infections in children

The paediatrician Emmanuel Nellen gives tips and remedies for boosting the immune system to stave off sniffles, coughs & colds.

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Nebuliser, inhalation solution and fruits on a table

Is your child ill all the time? The paediatrician Emmanuel Nellen explains how simple, preventative remedies can boost the immune system and how the right airway care can prevent your child getting infections.

Tip 1: A healthy lifestyle is the foundation for your child’s immune defences

To strengthen your child’s immune defences, the paediatrician Dr Nellen recommends focusing on a few simple everyday habits.

  • Enough sleep: Children and adolescents should ensure they have a healthy lifestyle and get enough sleep.
  • Drink plenty of fluids: Make sure that they drink plenty of fluids.
  • Fresh air: Make sure they regularly go outdoors and get plenty of fresh air.
  • Parents as a role model: As parents, you can be role models and follow this advice too.

“[Children and adolescents] should ensure they have a healthy lifestyle, drink plenty of fluids, get enough sleep and go out in the fresh air. As parents, you can be role models and follow this advice too.”

Emmanuel Nellen
Paediatrician

Child sitting on the bed, using the PARI BOY Go nebuliser
PARI inhalation devices nebulise quickly and effectively.

Tip 2: Take care of your airways and mobilise the mucus (Inhalation therapy)

Especially if children tend to have too much mucus, physical methods can help keep their airways healthy.

  • Inhalation therapy:Inhalation therapy with hypertonic saline solution can be helpful for children and adolescents who are prone to infections.
  • Effect in cases of mucus build-up: Especially if the illness has caused a build-up of mucus, inhalation with hypertonic saline solution helps liquefy the secretions and make it easier to cough them up.
  • Nasal douches: If the child tolerates it, nasal douches are a simple way to flush mucus out of the nose.

“Some people swear by nasal showers. It can be helpful but can also be perceived as unpleasant. Not all children tolerate it. Inhalation therapy with ectoin or hypertonic saline solution can be beneficial for children and adolescents who are susceptible to infection – especially when the illness results in large quantities of mucus. Here, inhalation with hypertonic saline solution helps liquefy the secretions and make them easier to cough up. At the same time, hypertonic saline solution can be perceived as irritating; nonetheless, it helps mobilise the mucus and makes it easier to discharge it from the bronchial tubes.”

Emmanuel Nellen
Paediatrician

Tip 3: Identify harmful environmental factors (noxious substances)

Harmful substances (noxious substances) in the environment may be the reason for the increased susceptibility to infections. The paediatrician therefore advises:

  • Smoke-free: Smoking should be avoided in any household or place where children or adolescents spend a lot of time.
  • Test for allergens: Mould, dust or animal hair are potential allergens which can make children ill all the time. Therefore, it is important to clarify whether the child or adolescent has an allergy.

“What we refer to as noxious substances [can also play a role]. These are, generally speaking, harmful substances or circumstances that can trigger or exacerbate an illness. This includes situations where someone smokes in a household or other place where a child or adolescent spends a lot of time. Mould, dust or animal hair – all potential allergens – can result in children being ill all the time. It is important to test if the child or adolescent has an allergy.”

Emmanuel Nellen
Paediatrician

Boy sitting on the doctor's couch, doctor is sitting in front of him, father is standing behind him
Paediatrician Emmanuel Nellen gives tips for boosting the immune system to stave off sniffles, coughs & colds.

Tip 4: Prevention and early response

To prevent serious illness and to accelerate healing, you should prevent infections and not wait for a long time before you seek medical advice.

  • Keep up-to-date on vaccinations: It is important that all children and adolescents are fully vaccinated and have had all their boosters according to official recommendations.
  • Add the flu jab: Children and adolescents who are susceptible to infection can additionally be vaccinated against influenza (the flu jab) in consultation with their paediatrician.
  • Check the airways (for pre-existing conditions): Children and adolescents with chronic respiratory diseases (such as asthma) should use a peak flow meter at home to check how wide their airways are and to identify any early trends showing a deterioration in their breathing. Treatment should be promptly adjusted.
  • Seek medical advice promptly: Children who are prone to infections should seek medical advice promptly and not leave it for days or weeks before they do so. Fever, changes in mood and breathing problems (a severe cough, stuffy nose that makes it harder to breathe) are obvious warning signs which mean you should take your child to see their paediatrician.

» Read the whole interview with the paediatrician Emmanuel Nellen: Is your child always ill? About the causes and solutions

Summary: How can you prevent infections in children and adolescents?

Infections in children and adolescents can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle, full vaccination and support for the airways with measures such as inhalation therapy. With these steps, parents can actively help their children become less susceptible to infection.

About Emmanuel Nellen

Emmanuel Nellen is a specialist in paediatric and adolescent medicine with his own practice in Ostfildern. After training as a medical technical radiology assistant, he studied medicine in Heidelberg-Mannheim and qualified in 2006 when he did his state exams. He then worked as a junior physician at the Stadt Hanau Clinic, at the Verbundkrankenhaus Bernkastel-Wittlich and the Reutlingen Regional Clinics. From 2014 to 2016 he was employed as a paediatrician in a practice in Rechberghausen.

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Note: The information in this blog post is not a treatment recommendation. The needs of patients vary greatly from person to person. The treatment approaches presented should be viewed only as examples. PARI recommends that patients always consult with their physician or physiotherapist first.

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