Let them get dirty

Children exposed to pets, viruses and dust (Clin Exp Allergy, 1999; 29: 611-7; BMJ, 2001; 322: 390-5; Lancet, 2000; 35: 1680-3) at an early age have less asthma as they get older. This is because these things act as small, manageable challenges to the immature immune system.

Such scientific evidence calls into question the accepted wisdom of sterilisation, the use of antibacterial soaps and keeping children away from their sick friends.

Indeed, it appears that early exposure to bacteria is more likely to be health-enhancing if the child’s health is well-supported in other ways - such as breastfeeding and a staged diet free of other known food allergens, like cow’s milk and wheat, too early in life.

Related WDDTY Content

Wheat-Free Flour

For most of the world, bread, pasta and couscous are dietary staples believed to be vital for survival. Yet, for some people, wheat is toxic - and res...

Food allergy and asthma

Although allergies have been identified as an asthma trigger, they won’t cause asthma on their own. In fact, not all allergic people have asthma, and...

Is a little dirt a child's best friend?

While dustmites have long been cited as the cause of childhood allergies, new research evidence suggests that early exposure to bacteria in house dust...

Exercise-Induced Asthma: It may be a food allergy

Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) may be an anaphylactic reaction to a food rather than a response to physical activity. Doctors have discovered that qui...

Asthma: a breath of fresh air

If ever a disease were misunderstood by modern medicine, it is asthma. Although doctors finally have begun to accept that asthma may be caused by an a...

Early exposure to pets reduces atopy rates

It is common for families prone to allergic diseases to be advised against keeping pets, but new data suggest it may be time to stop blaming the famil...