Hi L.---It's never good when you are watching your little one suffer. My daughter had recurrent ear infections, well into college, because of allergies. Fortunately, we did not have to deal with steroids or breathing treatments, but she did have tubes in her ears several times. But that nose, boy, did it ever make a mess for her.
I wish I knew then what I know now. Did you know that your diet has a huge effect on how the immune system works? This is not to say that your daughter has a poor diet, but sometimes, when a person is susceptible to a health issue, the diet has to be better than good to avoid the disease.
Your best immune system support is a diet based on whole foods; fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes, with some seeds and nuts as well. Minimuze the use of animal protein, using it as a condiment or flavoring for soups or stews. Avoid cows milk completely, as it is an allergen to most people, mucous production being one of the biggest problems. Please go to www.strongbones.org to learn more about 'Why not milk'. I say this as a former milk lover, having quit the habit in my early 40's. Don't be concerned about calcium. It's not absorbed well from milk anyway. I can share a list of foods that are much better sources of calcium, if you would like.
Another food that has a big, negative impact on the immune system is sugar. Sugar and sugary foods make the immune system lazy. So it makes sense that we would get sick more often with a high sugar diet, or that our immune system becomes sensitive to things it needn't be worried about, like pollen or dust.
I have some great charts about how many servings of fruits and veggies that kids of different ages should be eating. I have found, however, that sometimes eating a 'good' diet is not enough to prevent disease processes. So to get extra fruits and veggies into my family's diet, we use a whole food based supplement, made of 17 different fruits, veggies and grains. Independent research shows that it works to help support an healthy and balanced immune system. A Dr. I work with in Chicago has never hospitalized any of her asthma patients after they start consuming Juice Plus+. JP+ also comes in gummies and kids love them. Let me know if you would like to know more about any of these topics. It is my honor to help people learn how to optimize their health, even if JP+ is not right for them.
And one other thing. You can also try chicken soup with hot peppers in it. It will help drain the mucous. You'll have to find the level of 'hot' that your daughter can stand, but it really works. I have a recipe if you'd like.
Sorry about the length of this reply. For me, it helps to know why. I look forward to talking to you. In health, D. ###-###-#### www.dianeshealthed.com