Every parent knows the feeling.
Your toddler just recovered from a runny nose when a cough appears.
A few weeks later, there is a fever.
Then comes another cold that originated from their preschool.
Many parents start to wonder: “My child is always sick. Will this affect his growth?”
The short answer is: usually, no.
Most childhood infections are mild and self-limiting, and children generally continue to grow normally.
However, certain severe or recurrent infections can affect growth, especially during the first few years of life when growth is most rapid.
Always falling sick
The first few years of life are like a training camp for the immune system.
When children start daycare, preschool or playgroups, they are exposed to many viruses for the first time.
It is not unusual for toddlers to experience six to 12 respiratory infections a year.
In practical terms, this may mean a cough, runny nose or mild fever every one to two months.
While this can be frustrating for parents, it is often a normal part of childhood.
The good news is that these common viral infections rarely cause long-term problems.
Most children recover fully and continue growing along their usual growth curve.
Can infections affect growth?
Growth requires energy and nutrients.
When a child becomes ill, the body prioritises fighting the infection.
During this period:
- Appetite often decreases.
- The body uses more energy to support the immune response.
- Nutrient absorption may be affected.
- Growth temporarily slows down.
Fortunately, after recovery, most healthy children experience a period of catch-up growth, making up for the temporary slowdown.
Think of it like a short pause button, rather than a permanent stop button.
Not to worry
Let me share a common example.
Three-year-old Adam attends childcare.
Over the past year, he has had a runny nose almost every month.
He develops mild coughs and occasional low-grade fevers, and misses a few days of school each time.
Despite these illnesses, he remains active, eats reasonably well after recovery, and his height and weight continue to track along the same growth percentile.
Should his parents worry?
Probably not.
This pattern is extremely common among preschool children.
Mild upper respiratory tract infections such as coughs, colds and sore throats usually last only a few days and have little impact on long-term growth.
Parents often feel their child is “always sick”, but from a medical perspective, these infections are generally part of normal immune system development.
Of more concern
Now consider a different situation.
Six-month-old Sarah is admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia.
She requires oxygen therapy and struggles to feed for several days.
Over the next year, she experiences multiple hospital admissions for chest infections and gains weight poorly.
In this situation, growth may be affected.
Serious infections such as pneumonia, prolonged diarrhoea, tuberculosis, chronic lung disease or repeated hospitalisations can interfere with nutrition and growth.
During severe illness, children may eat very little, lose weight and take time to regain lost nutrients.
If these episodes occur repeatedly, growth can slow significantly.
Infants are particularly vulnerable because growth during the first two years of life is extremely rapid.
Any prolonged interruption to feeding and nutrition during this period may have a greater impact than in older children.
More susceptible
Some children are more susceptible to infections than others.
Examples include children with:
- Immunodeficiency disorders
- Cancer and receiving chemotherapy
- Organ transplants
- Chronic medical conditions
- Severe malnutrition.
These children may experience more frequent, severe or prolonged infections.
As a result, they are at greater risk of poor weight gain and slower growth.
Careful monitoring by their healthcare team is important.
Warning signs
Parents should seek medical advice from their paediatrician if their child:
- Is losing weight or failing to gain weight
- Has fallen off their usual growth curve
- Has prolonged diarrhoea
- Experiences repeated severe infections requiring hospital admission
- Has persistent fever
- Appears unusually tired or lethargic
- Has recurrent infections in unusual sites or infections that are difficult to treat.
These signs may indicate an underlying medical problem requiring further assessment.
Boosting immunity
Can parents do anything to help boost their child’s immunity?
This is one of the most common questions I hear in clinic.
A child who lacks certain vitamins and micronutrients can benefit from appropriate supplements.
However, there is definitely no magic supplement that prevents all infections.
A healthy immune system is built through simple daily habits like:
A balanced diet provides the building blocks the immune system needs.
Do ensure your child eats:
- Fruits and vegetables of different colours
- Protein-rich foods such as fish, eggs, meat, beans and tofu
- Whole grains
- Dairy products or appropriate alternatives for adequate calcium.
Children who are undernourished are more vulnerable to infections and may have more difficulty recovering from illness.
Sleep is when the body repairs and recovers.
Toddlers generally need around 11-14 hours of sleep daily, including naps.
Older children require slightly less, but still benefit from regular sleep routines.
Vaccines protect against serious infections that can have significant consequences for growth and overall health.
Preventing severe disease is always better than treating it.
Regular exercise supports overall health and immune function.
Outdoor play, sports and active family time all help children stay healthy.
Simple measures such as handwashing, covering coughs and avoiding sharing utensils when sick help reduce the spread of infections.
Support and monitor
If your toddler seems to have a never-ending cycle of coughs, colds and runny noses, take heart.
In most cases, these common childhood infections are a normal part of growing up and are unlikely to affect long-term growth.
What matters more is the child’s overall growth pattern, nutrition and recovery between illnesses.
However, severe, recurrent or prolonged infections can interfere with growth, especially in infants and children with underlying medical conditions.
Monitoring your child’s height and weight regularly remains one of the best ways to ensure they are growing well.
Remember, growing children will occasionally fall sick.
The goal is not to avoid every infection – that is impossible – but to support children with good nutrition, adequate sleep, vaccinations and timely medical care so that they can continue to grow, thrive and reach their full potential.
Dr Jeanne Wong Sze Lyn is a consultant paediatrician and paediatric endocrinologist. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
