5 Signs Your Child Is Getting Sick
Back to school is a very exciting time of year - new school clothes, new school supplies, new friends and a new teacher. With that comes new microorganisms and pathogens being introduced to your child's immune system, which may ultimately lead to colds, flu and even allergies.
But don't worry! There are warning signs you can watch for before they even get sick - allowing you to intervene before anything develops into full blown illness. Always remember, symptoms are like text messages from your body communicating to you that something is wrong, do not ignore them.
Here are the top 5 signs your child is getting sick before they even become sick:
1. You may notice a change in your child's breath or body odor.
When your child is getting sick, often there is a change to their breath - you may notice that it smells more sour than normal or maybe their breath is hotter than usual. This can be due to a number of factors. One, is that the body creates mucous to kill viral and bacterial infections, creating post nasal drip that can cause halitosis (bad breath).
In one study, published in Sweden (2014), eight healthy individuals were injected with with either lipopolysccharide, a bacterial toxin that produces a strong immune response, or a placebo (salt water). The individuals were then instructed to go and work up a sweat. The t-shirts of the subjects were collected, the armpits cut out and the fabric placed into bottles.
Then, 40 college students smelled the samples (not sad that I didn't participate in this study), and were instructed to rank the intensity, level of pleasantness, and perceived "health" of the odor. Results indicated that people who were injected with the toxin, and were having an immune response, emitted a more intense and less pleasant smell than those in the saline placebo group.
The conclusion of the study was such:
"This chemosensory detection of the early innate immune response in humans represents the first experimental evidence that disease smells and supports the notion of a “behavioral immune response” that protects healthy individuals from sick ones by altering patterns of interpersonal contact."
2. You may notice that their hands and feet are sweaty
This is the body mounting an immune response to whatever it is may be fighting - this is an important part of the innate immune response. In fact, a fever is an incredible defense for fighting off an infection or illness because many pathogenic germs cannot live in an environment higher than 99.9 F. This is why it is helpful to not suppress a fever with over-the-counters. The "wait and watch" is a great tool for a fever - if it spikes to over 103, then see a healthcare practitioner.
Another great option is constitutional hydrotherapy. This video helps explain the treatment - it is a great for anyone who is starting to get sick, is currently sick or just cannot kick the last bit of a cold or flu and we offer it here at The Healing Hut!
3. Increased frequency in urination
There are a number of reasons for this, some children will instinctively want more water when they are beginning to not feel well and this will cause increased need to go to the bathroom. Another reason is that the brain gets a message that the body is heating up and in order to retain sodium and potassium, the sensation to urinate will increase. It is important to make sure that your child stays hydrated. Pedialyte and Gatorade are not the best options to make sure that electrolytes and hydration is maintained - they have additives, lots of sugar, and food coloring that deter health.
Here is a great homemade electrolye drink for you and your kids:
Squeeze one lemon into a 20 ounces (in a mason jar) of filtered water, add 1/4 tsp sea salt or pink salt and 1/4 cup coconut water. 2 TBSP of organic honey or maple syrup. You can also camu camu powder for some added benefits.
Sip through the day.
If your child is complaining of a sore throat, have them drink pure organic pineapple juice - the bromelain and vitamin C will help shorten the illness.
4. Decreased energy or changes in sleeping habits
Sometimes your child will start to feel poorly before they are able to articulate their symptoms to you. This may manifest as restless sleep at night, resulting in lethargy during the day. Your child may also begin to be more irritable or weepy before they are getting sick. With our daughter, she often becomes more whiny before an illness comes on full throttle.
If your child starts to exhibit these symptoms, especially if someone else in the family has been sick, allow them to rest. One of the best cures for any illness is rest and hydration!
5. Redness of the face, cheeks, or tongue
In Chinese Medicine, when children get sick, they tend to heat up. Heat often presents as redness on the face and tongue. You can take note of your child's face and cheeks during rest time to see if they are flushed or more red than normal - a tell tale sign that he or she is fighting off something.
The tongue is our only muscular organ that can be seen outside of the body making it a great indicator of our internal environment. When your child's body is heating up to fight off a pathogen, their tongue will often become red. Make sure to look at your child's tongue when he/she is healthy to get a baseline. In children, unlike adults, the tongue changes quickly, indicating current happenings in the body. Luckily, we can ask our kids to stick out their tongue (they'll get a kick out of that!) and look for clues that tell us that something may be going awry. Although we do not recommend acupuncture if your child is under 12, there are really helpful massage techniques that will boost their immune system, calm them, and release heat from their body. If you'd like to learn more about this, visit us at The Healing Hut!
Here is a helpful tongue chart for you and your family!
Reference:
Olsson, Mats J., et al. "The scent of disease human body odor contains an early chemosensory cue of sickness." Psychological science (2014): 0956797613515681.
