In 1989, David Strachan proposed the Hygiene Hypothesis, which suggests that the rising incidence of allergic diseases, such as asthma or allergies was linked to reduced exposure to germs, declining family sizes, limited exposure to animals, and higher general standards of cleanliness. Strachan suggested that the recent rapid rise in dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergies may be because of a lower incidence of infection in early childhood.
The young child’s environment may be “too clean” to effectively stimulate and challenge the child’s immune system, and the decreased exposure to certain microbial or other species, such as helminths, is important in developing immune-regulatory mechanisms. If the environment is “too clean,” the hypothesis implies that the immune system will not mature properly, and may not react appropriately when the child’s immune system encounters germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi, fungal spores, and parasites, or other environmental triggers such as pollen and animal dander. Other investigators suggest increases in asthma and immune-related diseases may be because of factors, such as smoking, secondhand smoke in children, toxin ingestion, and pollution.
David Strachan theorized modern parents clean their children and households more effectively, resulting in children not being exposed to the same level of germs as previous generations. The excessively sterile upbringing, consistent use of hand sanitizer, sterile foods, constant cleaning of the infant and child, social isolation from other children, and no outdoor play may make children prone to develop immune-related diseases as the child’s immune system doesn’t develop properly and this may cause malfunction.
Researchers believe that overusing hand sanitiser could cause children to lose their ability to build up resistance to bacteria. Being too clean can change the bacteria inside us, making us more susceptible to allergies, asthma and other immune-related conditions.
The Hygiene Hypothesis proposes that exposure to certain germs teaches the immune system not to overreact. It does not suggest that parents expose infants and children to infectious organisms to stimulate their immune response. It suggests that infants and children may be too protected from other children and the environment so that they fail to develop a normal immune system.
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