A preliminary study recently published in Pediatrics suggests that children in households that hand-wash dishes were significantly less likely to develop eczema and somewhat less likely to suffer from asthma and hay fever.
The study tested 1,029 7- to 8-year-old Swedish children. Researchers from Sweden's University of Gothenburg led the study and found that parents washing dishes by hand might prevent certain allergy-related health issues. Only 23 percent of children with parents who hand-washed dishes reported a history of eczema, compared to 38 percent of children whose parents used a dishwashing machine.
Hand-washed dishes aren't as sanitary as ones run through a machine, so repeated exposure over years to hand-washed dishes leads to higher exposure to bacteria. These results support the "hygiene hypothesis" that suggests being exposed to bacteria and microorganisms at a young age might arm children with stronger immune systems. On the other hand, living in an environment that is completely sterile might lead to the development of allergies.
Dr. Bill Hesselmar, the lead scientist of the study, told National Public Radio that the results could also be due to other factors. For example, families without dishwashers also bought more food straight from the farm and they were typically of lower socioeconomic status than families with dishwashers. So, it's unclear just yet whether hand-washing dishes actually has health benefits for children.
If you have any questions or concerns about allergy prevention and solutions, contact Allergy Be Gone today. We'll keep you alerted to the latest developments in the world of allergy research, and we can even recommend the best allergy solutions for your particular symptoms and needs.
