A child's immune system cannot be strengthened with a single pill or a folk remedy, according to Ekaterina Morozova, a candidate of medical sciences and senior pediatrician at the Medicina joint-stock company. She told the Russian news outlet Lenta.ru that a schoolchild's immunity works properly when the body gets enough sleep, food, movement and time to recover.
Morozova said vaccination on schedule, regularly airing out rooms and the habit of washing hands are all important. These are the measures with proven benefits, she said, rather than promises to quickly "boost the body's defenses."
Sleep and the immune system
Sleep is directly linked to how well the immune system works, Morozova said. Children aged 6 to 12 need 9 to 12 hours of sleep, while teenagers need 8 to 10 hours.
Regularity matters too, she added. Going to bed late on weekdays and trying to catch up on sleep at weekends does not make up for ongoing sleep deprivation.
What a child should eat
Morozova said a child's diet should be varied. Vegetables and fruit provide fiber, protein foods are needed to build tissue and immune cells, and whole grains and nuts supply minerals and healthy fats.
Honey, lemon, garlic and ginger can be part of the diet, she said, but they do not form a barrier against viruses. Vitamin C does not prevent colds in every child, and sweet drinks and ultra-processed foods do not strengthen the immune system, she said, even when the packaging describes them as "vitamin-enriched."
Vitamins, supplements and hardening
Morozova said vitamins and trace elements are only needed for confirmed deficiencies or specific medical conditions. She advised against giving several supplement complexes "just in case," saying there is no convincing evidence that multivitamins prevent colds in healthy children.
She also described hardening, or gradual exposure to temperature change, as a process that should include walks in suitable weather, ventilating rooms, avoiding overly warm clothing and washing with cool water. The practice should never cause chills, fear or prolonged discomfort, she said.
Common misconceptions
Morozova said it is a mistake to believe a schoolchild must get sick in order to train their immune system. Illness can be severe and lead to complications, she said, while vaccines introduce the immune system to infections more safely than an actual illness would.
According to Morozova, a child's health is most often harmed not by a lack of expensive supplements but by chronic sleep deprivation, overheating, insufficient movement, smoking inside the home and being sent to school with a fever.
If a child becomes unusually sick, recovers poorly, loses weight or constantly feels weak, Morozova said the cause should be investigated together with a pediatrician rather than by changing immune-boosting products without medical advice.
Background on related health warnings
Physician and gastroenterologist Olga Chistik previously said that a sudden drop in weight without any attempt to lose it may not simply be the result of stress or a change in diet. She said it could be linked to diabetes, cancer or problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
