17mo DD ALWAYS sick- starting to worry

Hi guys,

We're doing the daycare shuffle again tomorrow- organising friends to babysit, DH to come home early from work, me to catch the bus so he can have the car- because DD (17 months old) is sick, AGAIN.

This week she's broken out in red spots all over her back and tummy- I'm pretty sure it's another non-specific viral rash (which I recognise because it's the second one this month). Last week she had tonsillitis; the week before that gastro; the week before that she was (gasp) healthy; the week before that she had the first viral rash; the week before that she had gastro; the week before that... you get the idea.

She goes to daycare two days a week, and it seems pretty clear that she's picking up all these bugs there. I've only had to take her to the doctor twice in the last six months or so (once for the first rash, then for the tonsillitis) and she's only had antibiotics once. Almost everything she picks up is very mild, and resolves itself within a couple of days. At most she needs some panadol to bring down a mild fever, and she develops a cough, throws up a bit, and is generally grumpy.

We're starting to worry just a little about how frequently she's sick. She had a lot of medical issues at birth, and we're wondering if it might be part of that long term impact. She's also become really difficult with food lately, and we're worrying that her nutrition is becoming poor. And lastly, we're wondering if she might have a lactose problem (she's just weaned off breastfeeding and is now drinking a lot more cow's milk than ever before).

My question: Does anyone else have this issue? Has anyone had experience with this kind of frequent sickness being diagnosed as due to something else (like a lactose intolerance)? Is it usual for kids in daycare to get sick *this* often? (she's been attending daycare for about six months).

And how in the heck are we going to survive winter if this has been summer?? Oh, dear :)

Anyway! We have an appointment with the child health nurse in a couple of weeks, and I might take her to the doctor this week to discuss. Hoping a few of you might have experiences to share in the meantime.

Thank you :)

Claire

Your poor lil DD. We had a similar experience last year when DS started daycare and stopped BFing shortly thereafter. Something like 8 colds/viruses in a six month period. Do go to the doc if you think it's something more though. Maybe her immunity is particularly low and there may be ways to boost it. OJ is good to (vit c). FWIW the second six months of day care was quite a bit better than the first six.

My DD2 has primary lactose intolerance and was perpetually sick until we moved to a more humid environment, the catch 22 is that she also has a skin condition that thrives on humidity. Seeing as your DD has had 2 bouts of Gastro recently it sounds like secondary lactose intolerance (which is not permanent like primary) so switch to soy milk or lactose free cows milk for a little while and get some pro-biotics into her. Meanwhile she is building her immune system. Daycares are well known for the constant germ factories as many illnesses are contagious before symptoms show.

It is only temporary. Within a few months she will be one of the kids that never gets sick :hug:

Skeetaboat- thanks for sharing your experience :) I have my fingers crossed that DD (and I- I've gotten every single thing she's brought home, too!) will be immune to everything on earth pretty soon :P So glad to hear that your little one was better with the bugs in the second six months of daycare.

And Alioops- it's hugely helpful to hear about your DD. We're going through a different kind of hell with our little one at the moment as she's refusing to eat pretty much anything at all- soooo fussy- and I'm beginning to suspect the frequent illnesses and the fussy eating might both be connected to tummy pains from lactose trouble.

DH and I were both intolerant when we were babies- my mum put me on goat's milk, apparently, and his put him on soy. We've just been out and bought some soy for her to try this afternoon (had to give it a shot after she drank 250mL of full cream cow's milk yesterday while out with her granny for the day, then barfed the lot back up all over granny's literally brand new car :O). Will have a look at some probiotics too, and hopefully the combination of those two things will help a little. She's always been a night waker, too- makes me wonder even more if it's always been her tummy.

Thank you, guys!