Dr Phil Kieran: What can I do about my child’s recurring throat infections?

There are any number of supplements and potions on the shelves that claim to do this, but, unfortunately, it is rarely as simple as the adverts would have you believe.

Recurrent sore throats can be a sign of an infection that isn’t fully cleared, viral infections during the winter or physical irritation. People with blocked noses throughout the winter breathe through their mouths at night.

This can cause some dryness in the back of the throat, which can be very painful. If your son is a heavy snorer or mainly complains of pain in the mornings, nasal breathing could be the cause.

Saline nasal rinses, available in pharmacies, can offer relief.

If he needs more than three antibiotics a year for throat infections, it may be an unresolved bacterial issue. Sometimes, an infection can become entrenched, and doctors often use a low dose of antibiotics for a month to break the cycle.

If this fails, he may need to consider tonsillectomy to stop the cycle.

If he is getting repeated viral infections, the first thing I would do is have a chat about hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Many viruses are spread through droplets, so washing your hands before eating or touching your mouth, nose, or eyes can help reduce contagion.

Some viral illnesses are aerosol-spread, so having better ventilation in school would help.

Practically, this may mean sitting nearer the door or window, so he is somewhere with better airflow. There are a few topics to focus on. Smoking and vaping are bad for the immune system.

Nicotine damages blood vessels in the airways, which can increase the risk of infection.

You have pointed out that he doesn’t eat much fruit and veg, which would be my next area to target.

The vitamins in fruit and veg are essential for keeping the skin and mucous membranes intact, and the fibre they provide helps the gut microbiome, which is also important for fighting infections.

Exercise and sleep are the next big issues.

Exercise doesn’t need to be sport-related, but we should all do something that raises our heart rate for at least 150 minutes weekly.

Lastly, it would be worth supplementing his diet with vitamin D from September to March, as most of us don’t get enough vitamin D in our diets through the winter.

If you have a question for Dr Phil Kieran, please send it to parenting@examiner.ie