Early exposure to germs may keep infants allergy-free in later life

Babies exposed to pet dander at an early age may have a decreased risk of developing allergies and asthma later in life.

Many parents worry about exposing their children to germs, bacteria and allergens, and some take extreme precautions to ensure that their family is living in sanitary conditions. However, new research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology shows that early exposure to cat dander, household bacteria and rodent and insect allergens could make the child less susceptible to allergies and asthma later in life.

However, there is a point when exposure becomes more harmful than helpful. The scientists leading the study reported that exposure to allergens before the age of 1 was protective, while exposure after that increased the chances of suffering from asthma or allergies.

This finding adds strength to the hygiene hypothesis, which contends that the allergy and asthma rates of developed countries tend to skyrocket as the result of a much more sanitary environment. As a result of this general cleanliness, the immune system is thought to grow bored and overreact to things that are not really harmful, such as animal dander or pollen.

The study suggests that a child's immune system is formed very early on, but the scientists were careful to emphasize that the study does not constitute parenting advice but rather encourages families not to be overly afraid of germs, bacteria or allergens.

"Strict avoidance of allergens from the beginning does not protect you," one of the lead researchers told NBC News, "and early exposure in the right context may make the difference between disease and tolerance. You could say that this is the downside of cleanliness." 

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