Covid distancing may have weakened children’s immune system, experts say

[Northerner]

Scientists are concerned that measures to combat Covid-19 have weakened the immune systems of young children who have not been able to build up resistance to common bugs, leaving them vulnerable when mask-wearing and social distancing eventually end.

Contact with viral pathogens happens on a fairly regular basis and although it does not always lead to sickness, the exposure helps shore the immune system against the threat should the bugs be encountered again.

Over the past 14 months or so, protracted restrictions on mixing and travel, alongside mask-wearing and social distancing, have not only reduced the risk of Covid but other respiratory bugs such as the flu – cases of which were basically nonexistent last winter, according to surveillance data largely encompassing England compiled by the Royal College of GPs (RCGP).

However, virologists are concerned about RSV, a virus that can cause serious lung infections requiring hospital admission, and sometimes even death, in children under the age of one – and for which there are no approved vaccines.

Covid distancing may have weakened children’s immune system, experts say

End of social distancing and mask-wearing could leave children vulnerable to common bugs

www.theguardian.com

 

[Leadinglights]

The thought on why children are suffering from more allergies is that our homes have all become too 'clean' with all the promotion of spray everything with antibacterial/viral agents. The immune system is not being challenged, this is not new, I heard a lecture probably 20 years ago now and it made so much sense about how the immune system works needing challenges to keep it on it's toes.

 

[Northerner]

The thought on why children are suffering from more allergies is that our homes have all become too 'clean' with all the promotion of spray everything with antibacterial/viral agents. The immune system is not being challenged, this is not new, I heard a lecture probably 20 years ago now and it made so much sense about how the immune system works needing challenges to keep it on it's toes.

As my grandma used to say 'you eat a ton of muck before you die' 😱 🙂

 

[grovesy]

Well from the children and teenagers i have observed around here plenty seem to be mixing with others, not social distancing or masking.

 

[mikeyB]

As @grovesy says, most kids have been mixing freely. It's the isolating grown ups whose immune system isn't being challenged, I haven't had a cold since lockdowns started.

 

[nonethewiser]

Well makes sense doesn't it, think how many cases there was of flu this last year due to mask wearing.

As kids we would be out all day, think nowt of eating chips with filthy hands & even licked them clean afterwards, never did any harm & built up immune system.

 

[Ljc]

Well makes sense doesn't it, think how many cases there was of flu this last year due to mask wearing.

As kids we would be out all day, think nowt of eating chips with filthy hands & even licked them clean afterwards, never did any harm & built up immune system.

Ditto.
You forgot the crackling lol

well I sure built my immune system up in the 50s and early 60s
At infant and junior school, the loo block was outside no hand basins.
When I wasn’t home or at school I was playing out with loads of other kids or when we moved I would be over the common with a few mates . I would be out for many hours in all weathers ,

 

[pm133]

Well from the children and teenagers i have observed around here plenty seem to be mixing with others, not social distancing or masking.

To be quite honest, good luck to them.

As adults, we have asked a huge amount from young people over the last year.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

To be quite honest, good luck to them.

Especially outside. If they don't do anything else on June 21, I hope they'll stop being so silly about outdoor activities.