Why Is My Child Always Sick?: How to Stop Catching Colds Right Away
You are so brave and quiet I forget you are suffering.
Ernest Hemingway
“Hi, Mrs. Grayling, I’m calling from Dr. Smith’s office. I was just wondering how Emmy is. We haven’t seen her lately. In fact, we’re wondering if you changed pediatricians.”
Emmy Grayling’s pediatrician was pleased to learn she hadn’t switched doctors in the last few months, and even more pleased to learn she wasn’t getting sick much anymore.
Emmy was an active six-year-old on the autism spectrum when she first came to see me in April 2009. She was a pale, wispy little ghost, with deep, dark circles under her eyes, cold sores around her mouth, and a thick crust of warts on her tiny fingers and hands. She had stomachaches “all the time” and complained of headaches as well. Her mother joked they were “frequent flyers” at the pediatrician’s office, with several visits a month. Emmy missed a lot of school, and when she was there, she didn’t feel her best.
Research suggests some children on the spectrum may have what is called a “TH1 to TH2 shift,” an alteration in the immune system that may leave them more vulnerable to viral and fungal entities. Was Emmy’s immune system showing this pattern?
I could tell this young child had tummy troubles: She was gassy, constipated, and had a history of thrush. She put off going to sleep and woke up frequently in the night. Emmy draped her abdomen over furniture and chewed on her clothing. She exhibited very disruptive and aggressive behaviors such as hitting, biting, pinching hard enough to draw blood, throwing objects, and having huge meltdowns. More than two dozen large warts covered her fingers. These were refractive to treatment and had been burned off, frozen off, and peeled off with caustic acid several times.
My goal was for Emmy’s immune system to balance out and begin fending off viruses, thrush, cold sores, and all those warts.
Immune health starts in the GI tract. A simple handful of digestive enzymes, probiotics, and antimicrobials took on the job of balancing Emmy’s gastrointestinal system. I added Vitamin D3 and a touch of selenium for added immune support. Emmy immediately quit catching so many colds, and her bowel habits and sleep patterns began to straighten out. Her color improved, her under-eye circles faded, and her mom felt like throwing a party!
Within two months, Emmy’s mom received that friendly call from the pediatrician’s office to see if she had switched to another doctor since Emmy had abruptly stopped coming by. Nope, she just quit getting sick so much!
I noticed she still had all those warts, and I added monolaurin to her daily regimen. Monolaurin, made from coconut oil, is known to have antiviral, antifungal, and some antibacterial properties. Mrs. Grayling worked on cleaning up Emmy’s diet.
At the end of 2009, we looked back over Emmy’s record: Emmy caught a “slight cold” in August and had an ear infection in October. Her behavior had significantly improved, and she was missing school less often and getting more out of her education and therapies.
Since then, Emmy continues to have glowingly good health and only occasionally catches a cold. Her warts gradually resolved without further treatment and have not returned. I can’t remember the last time I saw a cold sore around her mouth. Her behavior, cognition, and language have blossomed, although as she approaches her teen years, she has been a handful (as teenagers often are). Whatever challenges Emmy faces now, poor health, rampant warts, and frequent colds are not on the list.
Immune Dysfunction on the Autism Spectrum
Global research is strongly suggestive that those on the spectrum have immune system disturbances. There is even talk of the possibility of immune, autoimmune, and inflammatory subsets of autism. Let’s look at some of these immune system problems. (I’ll translate as I go.)
TRANSLATION: This means your child may catch more colds and viral infections, be more prone to fungal infections, and have more allergies and asthma than other children.3
A shift in the Th1 to Th2 ratio in the immune system, with a Th2 predominance1
A disproportionate response to stress (duh!)2
Pro-inflammatory immune state with: TRANSLATION: Those with ASD may be in a state of chronic inflammation throughout their body.
Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines4
Disregulated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines5
Increased level of pro-inflammatory neurotensin6
Elevated plasma neopterin levels7
Neuroinflammation8
Mast cell activation in the brain9
TRANSLATION: Mast cell activation contributes to brain inflammation. Prolonged microglia activation can lead to loss of connections (underconnectivity) in the brain.11
Neurotoxic microglia activation10
Increased levels of extracellular mitochondrial DNA, which triggers an autoimmune response in the brain12
Autoantibodies to brain tissues13:
Myelin basic protein (MBP)14
Hypothalamus15
Thalamus16
Cerebellum17
TRANSLATION: The immune system is attacking various tissues in the brain.
Brain endothelial cells18
Brain nuclei cells19
Low natural killer cell activity20
Altered T-cell response21
Elevated monocyte counts22
Elevated levels of measles antibodies23
TRANSLATION: These are all types of cells from the immune system that are different in ASD.
Non-IgE-mediated food allergies:
TRANSLATION: This means food really can cause inflammation in your child’s GI tract and affect his behavior.
Aberrant innate immune response (inflammation), which may predispose children with ASD to sensitization to common dietary proteins and lead to inflammation of the GI tract and an increase in behavioral symptoms24
That’s a lot of technospeak, but the translation is that the immune system may be out of whack in ASD, leaving your child more prone to colds, allergies, and asthma, and that his immune system may even turn on him and attack tissues in his own brain. Inflammation, which is a tool of the immune system, may be left in the “on” position, leaving a child in a state of chronic systemic inflammation, including brain inflammation. A child may become sensitive to common foods, which may further inflame the GI tract and create an increase in difficult behaviors. All of this is completely invisible to the naked eye and is a big part of why I say, “What you see isn’t what you get with ASD.” Research is increasingly suggestive that immune dysfunction in ASD may affect neurodevelopment and play a role in neurological dysfunction. Studies also allude to the possibility that immune dysfunction may affect behavior, thanks to the strong connection between the brain and the immune system.
These are not spoiled brats with bad parents; these are children with real medical problems and health challenges that affect their behavior and learning. Instead of medicating these children until they shut up, we need to find ways to naturally cool and put out these fires and bring balance to dysfunctional body systems.
What Does the Immune System Have to Do with the GI Tract?
Let’s connect the dots here. It’s no secret by now that many children and adults with ASD struggle with poor GI health. And where does the bulk of the immune system live? It’s the GI tract—that amazing living tube that starts in your mouth and stretches all the way to your hind end. In fact, it houses about 70 percent of the immune system, so it’s no leap of faith to draw a connection between poor GI health and immune dysfunction on the spectrum.
So, let’s get this straight: We already learned that GI dysfunction can create difficult behaviors. And now we learn that immune dysfunction might affect behavior. So, could restoring, supporting, and maintaining optimal GI and immune health result in our children being medicated less for challenging behaviors? Sounds like a win-win-win to me.
Thank you, Captain Obvious!
Allergies and asthma, chronic congestion, and the ever-running nose can hit our spectrum children particularly hard. You’ve seen that bleary and droopy-eyed, mouth-breathing look on your child’s face. It’s a sign of congestion and allergies. And how about the “allergic salute,” the upward swipe of the nose with the palm? It can leave a telltale horizontal crease across the tip of the nose if it’s done frequently enough. Headaches, snoring, and seasonal misery in the spring and fall are common, too.
Consequences of Frequent Illnesses
When children don’t feel well, they are miserable and whiny, and who can blame them? They require a lot of tender loving care, which we parents are happy to provide, but it sure takes a toll on the family dynamic. We usually have to cancel appointments, errands, and lessons and be a magician to get dinner on the table when our children are sick.
When our children miss school, especially if it’s over and over again, it can create gaps in learning and understanding of the material covered in class. It interrupts mastering a goal in applied behavioral analysis (ABA), speech, occupational therapy (OT), or an activity of daily living (ADL). Your child is then left struggling to keep up when he returns to school, plus he’ll be buried in makeup work, which can take a toll on grades. All that can leave any child feeling discouraged and overwhelmed.
Sometimes our children are not sick enough to miss school, but they aren’t as vibrantly healthy as they could be. Children with autism might be there that day in the classroom, but they struggle with congestion, fatigue, brain fog, malaise, or headaches.
Vicious Cycle of Antibiotic Overuse
Like Ron Weasley’s broken wand in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, antibiotics are a useful tool that can have unwelcome side effects on the gastrointestinal system. No, you won’t cough up any giant slugs, but the price of antibiotic use in these children can be a gut ghetto and a battered immune system.
Despite the educational efforts of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to reduce the use of antibiotics, many parents still expect one when their child has an ear infection, and many doctors still hand them out. Some children experience one ear infection after another and get round after round of antibiotics. They often end up with bilateral tympanostomies, or “tubes” in their eardrums. When I ask how many rounds of antibiotics a child has had, some parents reply, “Too many to count!” (One parent replied, “Less than a hundred!” Yikes.)
Even appropriate use of antibiotics can damage the good bacteria in our gut and thus strike a blow to the immune system. It’s like a merry-go-round you can’t get off. You should support GI health during and after a round of antibiotics, or your child may go from ear infection to ear infection or even develop urinary tract infections.
Early antibiotic use seems to set off a cascade of gastrointestinal problems in autistic children and, for that matter, in children without autism. It’s like the good bacteria never get off to a good start, and we usually see colic, gassiness, sleep problems, and recurrent ear infections, which lead to more antibiotics and finally tubes in the ears.
Vicious Cycle of Urinary Tract Infections
More bad news: Research suggests that overuse of antibiotics may lead to recurrent urinary tract infections, or UTIs. Overuse can also create drug- resistant bacterial UTIs.25 Antibiotic overuse isn’t the only thing that leads to urinary tract infections. Microbial imbalance, or dysbiosis in the GI tract, can lead to UTIs, which can lead to antibiotic use, which can lead to . . . microbial imbalance in the gut. Can you hear the merry-go-round music?
I’m not against antibiotics; my family uses them but only sparingly and when absolutely necessary. How our society uses antibiotics has created this generation’s problems. Let me show you what I mean in Figure 7-1.
Figure 7-1
Is your child on the antibiotic merry-go-round? Let’s look at Figure 7-2 and see how to break this cycle, reduce and prevent frequent ear infections and UTIs, and keep our children from catching so many colds.
Figure 7-2
Replace the vicious cycle of antibiotic overuse with a virtuous one of support. You will need to provide probiotics and S. boulardii during rounds of antibiotics and follow with a gentle, natural rotation of effective antimicrobials that won’t tax the liver or harm the child. You’ll be following the Antibiotic Support Protocol that I use in my center, so your child can get off, and stay off, the antibiotic merry-go-round. (See Week 6 in the Chapter 9 Online Action Plan.)
Take a look at Sophia’s struggle with chronic urinary tract infections.
Sophia’s Story
Sophia was a twelve-year-old girl with autism and intellectual impairment who came to see me one December. Sophia had several UTIs per month and was on antibiotics almost constantly. During her initial visit, she had poor impulse control and created some pretty amazing graffiti all around the office. The rest of the time, Sophia kept a big goofy grin on her face and giggled and rolled around on the couch and floor like a rag doll. She couldn’t even sit up in her chair properly. I wondered if some of this conduct was due to the by-products of microbial imbalance in her intestinal tract.
There were a number of ways to support vibrant health for Sophia, but I could not do much without first restoring balance to her gastrointestinal system. We started with the Basic GI Support Protocol.
When the family brought her back eight weeks later, they had barely been able to get even the enzymes in her. She was still giggly, goofy, and rolling around. And they brought bad news with them: Sophia’s UTIs were so frequent that she had been put on antibiotics prophylactically, meaning she was on an antibiotic all the time with the hope that would prevent her from getting another UTI. Even worse, there was only one antibiotic left that she had not developed resistance to. What was going to happen when her UTIs became resistant to that one?
The family redoubled their efforts and began to get the supplements into Sophia. By her next visit, she was not catching UTIs and her goofy demeanor was diminished. Five months after her original visit, Sophia was off of all antibiotics and was UTI-free. She now comes to her appointments and sits daintily in her chair without giggling, looking goofy, or rolling around on the floor. Dignity restored!
In an attempt to treat Sophia, the constant antibiotics prescribed by her doctor actually began to cause her more problems. They created a vicious cycle to the point where she became resistant to almost all of them, without the original problem (UTIs) being resolved. A simple natural rotation of Sac b, antimicrobials, plus probiotics became the answer. We were able to balance her gastrointestinal and immune systems and then go on to other supportive therapies. Sophia could now take full advantage of social and learning opportunities and live up to her true potential.
The Basic Immune Support Protocol
You can break the cycle of your child getting sick all the time. I am going to share the basics for restoring and maintaining vibrant immune health on the spectrum.
Where should you start? The gut, the gut, the gut . . . . Got it? The gut! Any more questions? Use the Basic GI Support Protocol (Chapter 6) to get started, especially if your child is constipated. It also helps restore good sleep patterns—and getting a good night’s sleep is essential for immune health. Then flow right into the Basic Protocol to support immune system health.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Vitamin D3 is a bargain. Prices on the Internet run as low as $8 to $10 for a year’s worth of the drops. Selenium is pretty cheap at less than $5 per year. Yay—for once, something our children need that doesn’t break the bank.
My Basic Immune Support Protocol is so simple you won’t believe it. It has three ingredients—probiotics, Vitamin D3, and a touch of selenium—and it has helped hundreds of children and adults on the spectrum have a more balanced and robust immune system.
Week 1 and thereafter: Give a daily probiotic with the evening meal.
Week 2 and thereafter: Give Vitamin D3 twice a day (400 to 2,000 International Units [IU]).
The third ingredient is optional (for the most frequent of flyers):
Week 3 and for the next month: Add selenium every other day (50 to 100 micrograms).
See Table 7-1 to calculate how much selenium to give your child. I give 50 to 100 micrograms of selenium every other day, not daily, and I never give more than 100 micrograms, as selenium has a narrow window of safety.
Table 7-1
Why I Use Vitamin D3 and Not D2
Most of the world is low in Vitamin D.26 It shouldn’t have been named as a vitamin, because it behaves more like a hormone and is vitally important for not just our bone and immune health but also for cell growth, neurological health and mood, and reduction of inflammation, to name a few conditions. It’s called the “sunshine vitamin” because we make it when sunlight hits our skin. It’s a good idea to let your child get twenty to thirty minutes of direct sun exposure daily, without sunscreen, so she can make this vitamin naturally.
There are two forms of Vitamin D, commonly called Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3.27 Don’t be fooled: The prescription form is nearly always in the form of D2, which is said to be over 200 times less active than the D3 form. That’s why when you take the prescription form of Vitamin D you are usually given about 50,000 IU several times a week. The really good news is that your child’s Vitamin D level can be tested using a completely painless finger prick—something I didn’t believe was possible until I tried it myself! (See Week 44 in the Chapter 9 Online Action Plan.)
Don’t be fooled by the results of the Vitamin D test, either. Most lab companies and doctors will tell you that any test value above 32 ng/mL is considered “adequate” for bone and overall health. Research into Vitamin D is ongoing, but I suggest you aim for an “optimal level” of 60–80 ng/mL. Many doctors and researchers believe that the daily recommended intake for Vitamin D is woefully inadequate. That does not mean you should give your child mega doses—Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and care must be taken with supplementation. I can get results using just 1,000 to 2,000 IU of D3 once or twice a day, and the entire dose can be delivered in one tiny drop of liquid. For young children, I use 400 IU twice a day.
Why I Use Just a Touch of Selenium
Research suggests selenium has a positive effect on the immune system,28 even in subjects who were not deficient in selenium.29 It may also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Selenium has a narrow window of toxicity, so more is not better in this case. I use it cautiously, and it’s also the first supplement I drop when a child shows improved immune health. Monitor selenium intake, and don’t forget to include the amounts in multivitamins and other supplements your child is taking. Table 7-1 shows maximum dosing limits.
If your child is a “frequent flyer”—that is, gets sick all the time and misses too much school—you’ll want to drop this immune protocol into your Action Plan pretty early on. But how do you accomplish that if you’re slogging through four weeks or more of an Enzyme Schedule? Our ASD children are often so sensitive to new things that you should never start more than one new supplement or medication at a time. Remember my rule of thumb? Leave at least three days in between starting new supplements so that you can keep an eye out for a sensitivity reaction.
There is a way to start the Enzyme Schedule and work in the immune protocol. We can layer in the immune protocol starting the first week of the Basic GI Support Protocol—that’s when you’re just getting started with everything—and you can begin to support immune health right away. Here’s how it goes:
Week 1 of Basic GI Support Protocol: Give enzymes with one meal a day this week. On Day 4 of this week: Begin giving Vitamin D3 twice a day.
Week 2: Give enzymes with two meals a day this week. On Day 4 of this week, begin giving selenium every other day.
But what about the probiotic, you say? We have to wait until constipation is gone, so continue with the rest of your child’s particular Enzyme Schedule and then go right into the Probiotic Schedule you have chosen.
If it’s hard to picture what I mean, then Figure 7-3 gives you a simple visual explanation.
Figure 7-3
If you’ve already done the Basic GI Support Protocol in Chapter 6, then your child is already on a probiotic. Just add a little Vitamin D3 and selenium (three days apart) and your child will usually respond right away. You don’t need to use large doses. See how well Hallie responded.
Hallie’s Story
“I can’t believe it; she always has some kind of runny nose all the time!” Hallie’s mother was incredulous that for the two months since her first visit to my center, her daughter hadn’t had any colds, runny noses, or sinus or strep infections—or, for that matter, any visits to the pediatrician’s office. “She has better color, and I’m noticing a little more sassiness lately,” she laughed.
Hallie’s frequent absences at school had taken a toll on her grades, even though she was a bright little girl. Again, we used a few basics like digestive enzymes, probiotics, Sac b, Vitamin D3, and selenium. Her grades improved after her immune system became stronger, and she became the vibrant, happy little girl she was meant to be. She got off the antibiotic merry-go-round. With time, she moved from a daily dependence on allergy medications to using them on an as-needed basis only.
At most of her subsequent visits, her mother would tell me, “I can’t remember the last time I took her to the pediatrician!”
MORE IMMUNE SUPPORT TIPS
Immune support doesn’t always come in a bottle. Lifestyle choices have a significant impact. It’s all connected.
Reduce sugar in the diet. 100 grams of sugar (a pack of Skittles and a pint of apple juice or chocolate milk) is known to negatively impact the immune system within thirty minutes after eating it. The effects last for up to five hours.
Green the diet. I know our children can be picky eaters, but do your best to work in whole, fresh, colorful organic foods. Make deals with your child for more computer time if he’ll eat green beans or winter squash. Stay away from highly processed foods like prepackaged snack items with no real nutritional value. (See Week 7 in the Chapter 9 Online Action Plan for more ideas on cleaning up the diet.)
Exercise! Go for walks or visit the playground and get some sunshine.
Stick with good old-fashioned hand washing. Hand sanitizers are not a good daily substitute for hand washing.
Get in shape for school. Do the Basic Immune Support Protocol for a few weeks before class starts each fall.
Minimize antibiotics: Take a conservative “wait and see” approach to fluid in the ears and ear infections. (See Week 29 in the Chapter 9 Online Action Plan for what to do if you suspect your child has an ear infection.) Because 97 percent of colds are viral in nature, an antibiotic is useless.
Avoid hand sanitizers, as they are thought to be endocrine disrupters. The common antibacterial ingredient triclosan may weaken mitochondria, something 60 percent of children with autism are thought to struggle with already. And a researcher at the University of California, Davis, suspects it may alter genetic expression that can increase susceptibility to autism.30
What’s in Your Toolbox?
Every website you look at has its own approach to immune support. There are many herbs and nutrients that support immune health, and you’re probably wondering why I don’t use more of them. One reason is that young children don’t always know how to swallow capsules, which means we have to resort to hiding bad-tasting supplements in their food or drinks. Second, they can usually tell we’ve hidden something in there and refuse it instantly. Third, I am a huge fan of using the least “stuff” to get results.
For those of you whose children don’t mind taking a few supplements or who need a little extra immune support, here are some of my other favorites.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Children with autism tend to be low in essential fatty acids.31 Omega-3 fatty acids help support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve autoimmune disorders.32 Bonus: They seem to help with ADHD, too. Purchase a high-quality children’s supplement and follow the dosing suggestions on the package.
Zinc
Children on the spectrum tend to be low in zinc.33 I learned a lot about zinc from my mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper. Zinc is beneficial to the immune system, helps stimulate appetite, can reduce diarrhea, and is healing to the GI tract—all things our ASD children need. It’s a busy little helper in the body, involved in close to 300 metabolic processes and reactions. Low zinc levels have even been associated with aggression and antisocial behavior.34
Too much zinc can inhibit the immune system, however. Avoid the common pitfall of “if a little is good, more must be better.” Just 20 milligrams a day should do the job, unless testing indicates a need for more. Zinc is easy on the wallet as well.
Xylitol
I recommend xylitol for support of oral health, immune health,35 and management of tic disorders. Research shows it is helpful against ear infections, too. Since sugar can depress the immune system, it’s a great idea to start swapping out sugar in your child’s diet for xylitol. Look for toothpaste, mouthwash, candy, gum, and nasal spray made with xylitol. You can also get it in packets or by the sack at the health food store.
THE IMMUNE SUPPORT TOOLBOX
Basic GI Support Protocol
Basic Immune Support Protocol
Zinc
Omega-3 fatty acids
Antioxidants such as Vitamin C
Antibiotic Support Protocol (to follow when on an antibiotic)
An organic, colorful diet rich in fruits and vegetables
Chiropractic visits for regular care and for ear infections and immune support
Anecdotally, chiropractors and the parents of school-age children who receive chiropractic care report that children get sick less often.
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
Many parents assume their child does not have any gut issues—always start with the gut, even if you don’t think your child has any GI problems. At least you will have looked under that rock and can move on with confidence.
Use your Un-Prescription Organizer to keep track of all supplements and protocols.
Avoid use of herbal blends early on. Stick with pure, single AM supplements.
KISS—keep it simple, stupid!
Use conservative amounts of supplements. More isn’t always better.
Transition to a Maintenance Plan protocol once your child’s immune system bounces back.
Stop giving selenium once your child stops catching frequent colds.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Immune Support Protocol
Q: Do I have to do the entire protocol—probiotics, Vitamin D3, selenium—for my child to get better?
A: I am a fan of doing the least amount of anything to get the job done. Add this protocol in stages if you like; if your child’s immune system rebounds with just the probiotic and he stops catching every cold coming and going, then that’s all you need. Still getting sick? Layer in the D3. Still needs a boost? Add a little selenium. These protocols are just suggestions, and are infinitely variable.
Q: When will his allergies and congestion go away?
A: I do not claim to “treat” allergies with this suggested immune support, and I do not promise that allergies will resolve. However, I have observed that after fifteen to twenty-four months of good GI and immune support, many of my patients report that their child doesn’t seem as bothered by seasonal allergies, or that he only takes allergy medications on an as-needed basis instead of daily. Some families report fewer or no asthma attacks. I can only assume that these conditions lessen as their child’s immune system becomes stronger and more balanced.
Want the Science
For sources of information found in this chapter, turn to the Endnotes.