PEDIATRIC HEALTH

Susceptibility To Infections

Dysbiosis, child health, and immunodeficiency

susceptibility-to-infections

The Story

My 5-year-old daughter had always had a weak immune system, at least for as long as I can remember. Particularly in the cold winter months, she was always catching colds or had a severely blocked nose. Of course, being around the other children in kindergarten hadn’t helped either. As a mother, I was extremely worried about my daughter and was at a loss as to what to do. Over the New Year 2019/2020, she caught another really heavy cold, but this time it was accompanied by a noticeable red rash that itched terribly. It was at this time that I decided that something wasn’t right and I decided to consult Dr. Rainer Didier.

The Journey

Dr. Didier suspected that she might be suffering from a dysbiosis, in other words, an imbalance in the gut flora, and had a stool sample taken. His su- spicions were correct. It turned out that the balance in my daughter’s gut had shifted in favour of the “bad” bacteria and that the stool sample showed too few “good” bacteria. The administration of pro-biotics, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are thought to help to re-establish the status quo in the gut. He recommended Junior Omni Lactis® 6, which my daughter took every day in the acute phase for three months, one spoonful stirred into food, mainly yoghurt.

The Success

After just a short time, my daughter’s rash disappeared and after three months her immune system was noticeably strengthened. I knew this be- cause she got far fewer colds. My daughter’s success story clearly illustrates the connection between balanced gut flora and a strong immune system. Now she takes Junior Omni Lactis® 6 combined with the iron preparation Junior VIKI Multivitamin the first sign of any colds – and this combination works wonders immediately. If as a mother I look back at my daughter’s medical history, I can proudly state today that she is a lot healthier and her quality of life has improved enormously.

Lifestyle Changes

A balanced diet in the form of fresh local fruit and vegetables that are rich in vital substances is essential for a good immune system. Also, nutrients such as vitamin C, zinc and selenium, which are contained in numerous foodstuffs and support our immune defences, are vital. ​Studies show the benefits on the immune system of regular exercise of medium intensity such as walking, running or bicycle riding and state that this helps the body to deal with pathogens and thus to reduce susceptibility to infections. At the same time, regular exercise is also beneficial for the digestion and increases personal well-being.

Health Management Plan

The Scientific Assessment

By Dr. Rainer Didier

Did you know that 70% of all immune cells can be found in the small and large intestine and almost 80% of all the defence reactions take place in the gut? So our gut flora offers a genuine protective shield against diseasecausing germs from outside – provided that the different gut bacteria are well balanced. If there is an unbalanced relationship between the “good” and the “bad” bacteria, resulting in a so-called dysbiosis, this can have a negative impact on the whole body and also weaken our immune system. For this reason, people who have a weak immune system should always have their stools analysed and if necessary, strengthen their gut flora with high quality probiotics in the form of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.

Recommended Action

Micronutrients

  • Probiotics

    Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria

  • Prebiotics

    Oligofructose

  • Water-soluble Vitamins

    Vitamin C, Niacin, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12

  • Fat-soluble Vitamins

    Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3

  • Minerals

    Magnesium, Zinc, Iodine, Selenium