Toddler getting sick a lot (getting nervous)

[Debobu]

HI

My 20 month is been sick a lot lately and I am getting scared.

He had a cold the end of June, then Croup the 4th of July weekend, then 10 days or a couple of weeks later (the week before last) got an upper respiratory infection with a fever.
Today he has a fever again and is cranky. I know he recently cut 2 teeth but I don't think that's the reason?!!!!

I am getting worried....Is it normal for a kid to be sick so often???!!!

Please reassure me...I am feeling very anxious!!!!
Thanks

[tessie]

Yes, particularly if they're around other kids a lot. Obviously if you're concerned then speak to your dr.

I find I'm sicker than I used to be. Pesky kids and their germ sharing.

[AtYourCervices]

I'd assume the cold, croup and upper respiratory infection were all a progression of the same illness. I'd just wait out the new fever/crankiness to see what the exact cause might be. I wouldn't be too worried just yet.

[grace2008]

Your son goes to daycare? My son had so many colds, ear infections (almost every time he got cold), and Croups last winter. This is a process of immunization system buildup almost every kid has to go through. Don't worry too much, he will get better after a while like my son.

[AllyRae]

Have you had his immune system checked? Amelia gets sick every 2 weeks on the dot and it's always gastrointestinal or respiratory. She also had several severe food allergy reactions and severe reactions to the only 2 vaccines she received. We had her tested, and found out that she has immunoglobulin a (IgA) deficiency. IgA is primarily involved with gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Her other lines are also somewhat affected too (IgE and IgG) but only to a mild extent...enough to contribute to allergies I guess.

[Attached2Elijah]

While I haven't dealt with that in toddlers too much, I can say that it can be normal if he has been around a lot of other children, such as daycare. My son went to Kindergarten this year having never been to preschool and was fine until March when he was getting a new fever every 3 days, on the dot. We were in and out of the ER for 3 months straight just waiting to hear something terrible (My husband and I just recently admitted to each other we were waiting on the same terrible diagnosis but didn't want to speak it out loud until we knew it was over)... the worst we ever heard was 'walking pneumonia' and strep. He was just getting EVERYTHING at once. Finally, the last fever broke in May and he's not been sick again since... *knock on wood* Good luck Mama!

[JessieBird]

Sadly, this sounds about normal to me for a toddler who is either in daycare or otherwise around other kids a lot. My son has been through about the same schedule lately. He is also 20 months and always seems to be cutting a new tooth - I think this contributes to worsened symptoms considerably. And can also cause sinus swelling, throat irritation, pesky cough, etc, things that make a cold seem much much worse. We seem to have two good weeks followed by a week of sick, then two good weeks, etc etc. We have been to the doctor several times and she is never concerned. She told me that colds and coughs take much longer to get over in toddlers than in adults.

Everyone is always telling me that it's good for his immune system and he'll be sick less later in life but I'm as exasperated as you are. Sometimes I think my friends say this just to try to ease their daycare guilt.