The immune system provides you and your children with a natural defense against bacteria, viruses, spores and other external factors that can cause sickness. When these cells, molecules and organs begin to rebel or become damaged, this system can cause autoimmune diseases or weakened immunity. At this point, you may start searching for immune support 1 year old and consult with a physician. These are some symptoms of immune challenges in children.
Look for Skin Rashes
Some autoimmune diseases and immune deficiencies can cause rashes or skin lesions. Several specific diseases, from lupus to eczema, actually cause rashes and other skin conditions in children. These occur because your child’s skin cells become inflamed as their internal organs become inflamed. Hair loss and joint pain may accompany these skin conditions.
Search for purple bumps, scaly skin and red rashes. Some of these conditions may itch or hurt, while others will not.
Frequent Fatigue & Dizziness
Pay attention to your children’s energy levels. Even infant kids can experience increased fatigue when their bodies fight immune deficiencies and diseases. Your child may also feel dizzy frequently and could seem clumsier than other children their age.
Other Symptoms
Although you should not consider a few symptoms to be absolute proof that your child has an immune disorder, you may consult a physician if you see multiple symptoms. Therefore, look for frequent low-grade fevers, weight loss, dry eyes, joint pain or stiffness, dry mouths and general feelings of sickness.
Autoimmune Diseases in Children
Some disorders impact specific parts of the body. For example, Chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis may impact your child’s gastrointestinal tract, whereas the adrenal glands and liver can be affected by Addison’s disease and autoimmune hepatitis, respectively. Multiple sclerosis impacts the nervous system, and type 1 diabetes is caused by insulin production (or lack thereof) in the pancreas. Other diseases, such as lupus, scleroderma and juvenile dermatomyositis and idiopathic arthritis, affect multiple organs or bodily functions.
Causes of Immune Challenges
Your child may experience autoimmune diseases and deficiencies for a number of reasons. First, some of these challenges are hereditary. Therefore, search your family’s history for any autoimmune disease that could have been passed down.
Some autoimmune diseases can be triggered by environmental factors, such as cleaners, drugs or other toxins. These diseases are often hidden until the child encounters one of these factors or gets an infection. In addition, female hormones may cause autoimmune flare-ups, especially during puberty. Therefore, if you see a sudden onset of symptoms during these periods, your child may be facing an autoimmune disease.
Future Outlook
If your children are successfully treated for autoimmune disorders, they may seem cured. However, the disease stays in their bodies for the rest of their lives. Although they may experience long-term or permanent remission, you should still watch for the common symptoms throughout their lives because some children even experience consistent or frequent relapses, where their symptoms will return and they will need additional treatment.
Unfortunately, autoimmune attacks cannot be predicted. However, you can make changes to your diet and lifestyle to encourage immune health in your children. Then, you can start seeing signs of a good immune system instead of one with challenges.
