It is a law of nature: children are often sick, as part of important training for their developing immune system. But of course, knowing this doesn’t stop parents being worried, especially if the child has had several colds and you have no explanation why. It’s important to know that as a rule, children go through about eight to ten infections from October to April each year - and up to the age of five they get gastro-intestinal flu about three to five times per year. This can sometimes be so severe that the paediatrician prescribes antibiotics. Antibiotics, however, should be avoided as far as possible, because there is an increasing threat of resistance. This means that some bacteria learn to adapt and eventually resist the effect of drugs. Resistant bacteria can multiply and spread from one person to another.
In the vast majority of cases, colds are caused by viruses. Antibiotics, which are only effective against bacteria, cannot harm viruses. Children with colds who are given antibiotics do not get better faster.
However, up to 30 per cent of viral respiratory infections in children result in bacterial complications, often associated with pneumonia, sinusitis or otitis media - thus necessitating the administration of antibiotics. So, what should be done? Focus on prevention! A study shows that a fresh plant extract of Echinacea purpurea (red coneflower) has a preventive effect against viral respiratory diseases and possible bacterial complications in children - and is thus able to reduce the rate of antibiotic prescriptions.
How Echinacea strengthens the immune system
- Substances called alkamides are essentially responsible for the anti-inflammatory and immuno-stimulating effect of red coneflower. They resemble cannabinoids and also bind to the same docking sites (receptors) on the body's cells. Cannabinoids exert both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on the immune system by regulating the release of cytokines. These are the body's own substances that play a role in inflammation and the immune system, among other things
- Echinacea purpurea (red coneflower) has a modulating effect on the immune system. This means that the cells of our defence system are stimulated to become active in a moderate and long-lasting way as soon as the body comes into contact with pathogens.
By the way, the fresh plant is ten times more effective against viruses than the dried one. The reason is that in this form the totality of all ingredients is available. Ingredients lost through drying, e.g., volatile such as essential oils, terpenes, glycosides and valuable secondary plant substances, cannot be replaced. This applies especially to preparations made from Echinacea purpurea, with its complex and practically unique mixture of active ingredients.
Echinacea purpurea can be recommended for long-term prevention in children between 4 and 12 years of age. However, an earlier study shows preventive efficacy also in children aged 1 to 5 years.
