The hygiene hypothesis suggests that exposure to bacteria and parasites in early childhood can help the immune system learn to recognize and fight harmful substances, potentially reducing allergy rates. Modern trends like antibiotic use and antimicrobial cleaners may hinder immune system development. Studies support the hypothesis, but caution against excessive exposure to harmful organisms.
The hygiene hypothesis is a theory within the medical community that suggests that humans may actually be living lives that are too clean for their own good. The argument of the hygiene hypothesis is that early childhood exposure to things like bacteria, parasites, and so on can teach the immune system to recognize these things, allowing it to focus on its original purpose, protecting the body from disease. The lack of such exposure may be behind the rise in allergy rates in the developed world, according to the hygiene hypothesis.
This concept was originally proposed by a British researcher, David Strachan, in 1989. Strachan looked at the health of large versus small families and found that in families with many children, the children were often healthier and less prone to allergies . Strachan believed this could be linked to increased exposure to things like bacteria that are common to large families, as it becomes difficult to control disease exposure when a large group of children are involved.
The researchers also looked at other trends in modern human life that minimize exposure to harmful organisms, such as the increased use of antibiotics and the use of antimicrobial cleaners in the home. Some also believe that the development of things like airtight doors and windows has contributed to the buildup of allergens in the home, trapping these things inside, rather than allowing them to circulate outside.
The implication is that people who are exposed to potentially harmful organisms will develop an immune system capable of fighting off those organisms, potentially making someone more resistant. According to the hygiene hypothesis, when the immune system isn’t busy with things like developing ways to fight parasites, it can learn to attack random foreign bodies like pollen, pet dander, and so on. In essence, by living “too clean,” people could be hindering the development of their immune systems.
Basically, exposure to harmful things helps the immune system regulate itself. It develops special cells known as disease-fighting T cells, and these cells learn to identify harmful substances only through exposure. Without being exposed to the myriad of organisms in the world that attack the human body, the immune system has no frame of reference, and instead attacks things without any sort of verification or control, potentially leading to various autoimmune diseases, among other things.
There have been several studies done on the hygiene hypothesis and there is some evidence to support it. This doesn’t mean you should expose your kids to a plethora of harmful bacteria and parasites, but it does mean that eating some dirt might not necessarily be harmful. It may also help to cut back on medications such as antibiotics, allowing the body to learn to fight off mild infections on its own.
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