There may be a few childhood illnesses that protect us later #

If there is a vaccine available to prevent an illness, children should have it, doctors said. It’s that time of year when nobody, especially children, seems to stay healthy.

Of course, nobody likes to be sick, and there’s no question that children should be vaccinated and spared scourges such as measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria. But are there some diseases that might actually be good for children to get? The answer is yes, but the list is short. The common cold and ear infections may be among the not so bad – and possibly even good – illnesses.

Experts argue that even bugs that cause seemingly harmless infections are not always so benign. In all cases, it would be better to have a vaccine, and common illnesses have vaccines in research and development.

In the end, parents should try to protect their children from diseases, because, in almost every case, prevention is possible, even if there is no vaccine yet. But if your child gets sick, despite your best efforts, there could be some upsides.

Nobody likes the runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough that come with the cold. On the bright side, the recurring sniffles that inevitably plague young children do help prevent sickness when they are older. We develop immunity against the cold virus when we are infected, and that keeps us from getting sick with the same virus again, at least for a few years.

Daycare can be a breeding ground for ear infections. Research suggests the onslaught of ear infections hits children when they are in a large group setting for the first time. Experts have argued it is better for children to get these infections over with early, before they are further along in school and need to be present to learn important subjects.

Having an ear infection may help prevent pneumonia down the road, as it could help the child develop additional immunity and possibly protect them against pneumonia.

Fifth disease usually causes no more harm than a fever and mild rash in children and adults. People infected with fifth disease develop immunity that is usually lifelong.

There is a misconception that it’s good to expose children to chickenpox, such as by sending them to chickenpox parties, to keep them from getting sick as adults. However, it is much better to induce immunity with a vaccine without going through the risk of infection and complications of the disease.

Possible complications of chickenpox infection in children include skin infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend the chickenpox vaccine for children younger than 12 months, so parents should do everything they can to avoid exposing babies to the virus. Babies who get infected have a higher risk of developing painful shingles during childhood.