I know mothers are eager for information when it comes to their children's defense against diseases and infections. So as a doctor, I'd like to share with you some important information about your child's immunity foundation.

The immunity foundation

Your child's immunity foundation is the bedrock of his entire immune system. This is composed of different body cells that act together to kill viruses or bacteria. The effectiveness of the teamwork of these cells will dictate whether the child will get sick or not. The immunity cells are usually stored in different parts of the body called the lymphoid organs, such as the spleen, liver and the thymus. But these lymphoid organs are still underdeveloped before six years of age.

Young children have a weaker immunity foundation

What most people overlook is that, at age two to six, a child's immunity foundation is not yet solid. Research shows that during this period, the lymphoid organs are still immature. You'll probably agree that this is the period when your child tends to frequently suffer from infections like common colds, diarrhea and even pneumonia. But as your child grows and gets exposed repeatedly to harmful viruses or bacteria, the lymphoid organs develop quickly. By age six, your child's immunity foundation would be about 80% developed.

Solidify your child's immune system

Here are some tips to help strengthen your child's immunity foundation.

• Breastfeed your child exclusively for the first six months. Breast milk contains anti-microbial agents that have been shown to decrease infections.
• Make sure that your child eats a balanced diet with four servings of fruits and vegetables. This will ensure that he gets the vitamins and anti-oxidants he needs to fight infections.
• Your child should sleep for eight to 12 hours a day.
• Teach your child healthy habits like bathing daily, brushing his teeth, washing his hands before and after eating and covering his mouth when coughing with tissue paper or handkerchief.

Vitamin supplements will also help ensure that your child is receiving his daily vitamin needs. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin C and Zinc, individually or together, can improve the immunity foundation of children by decreasing the frequency and sometimes even the duration of respiratory infections and diarrhea. They even improve wound healing.

Why don't you ask your doctor about it?

Dr. Tita Uy
Pedia - Mom

• Institute of Child Health and Human Development, UP Manila- -National Institute of Health - Asst. Research Professor
• University of the Philippines, College of Medicine- Clinical Associate Professor
• Philippine General Hospital- attending neonatologist
• J. Delgado Memorial Hospital- active consultant
• St. Luke's Medical Center – visiting consultant
• Mandaluyong City Medical Center – visiting consultant
• Chair, Research Dissemination and Utilization Office, UP Manila
• Member, Research Capacity Building Committee, UP Manila-National Institutes of Health
• Training Officer- Neonatology Fellowship Program, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital