The dirty mechanism of too much cleanliness leading to allergies

[Adina P]

I read all the time about how being too clean can lead kids to develop allergies but I had never read any hypotheses on mechanisms.  Without a proposed mechanism, a scientific idea is worthless to me.  This article finally gave me SOMETHING...but of course, more research is needed:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/23/149232765/why-getting-gr...

[Carol and Banjo]

Thanks Adina.....my girls and I have this discussion on a regular basis.    It just makes sense to me.   Very interesting!

[Adina P]

What discussion do you have?  Are they clean freaks and you're trying to reform them?  See I have a hard time with it because I want to get far away from dirt.  I touch my own dogs WAY more after they've had a bath even.  Otherwise there is a point where I feel like I'm petting a mop that's been mopping the backyard for weeks and weeks without ever getting rinsed =)

[Bonnie and Kona]

I firmly believe this and you are right... it's so good to see the research.

[Donna K & Quincy]

It makes sense that if you are never subjected to germs of any kind you cannot build any kind of tolerance or immunity.  I know I ate my fair share of dirt growing up. A new prescription, 1tsp of dirt daily, do you think it will catch on? :>)

[Adina P]

Right, but tolerance and immunity are very different.  That's why I have always been confused what dirt had to do with allergies.  What does my body being immune to whatever might be in a farm have to do with my body NOT tolerating pollen, dust, whatever?  After all allergies have to do with the immune system overreacting.  But this gave me SOMETHING to at least think about. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Well, as I said it's all very complicated. Although I am faithfully getting immunotherapy for trees, dust mites, dogs and ragweed--at least that's what I remember in the "cocktail", I still don't understand how they work. I never had any symptoms with dogs. My ragweed allergy, which was treated many years ago, had diminished but the trees were killing me. So how does getting regular injections of these antigens make things better, tolerance?

[Bonnie and Kona]

Maybe the 15 second rule of food falling on the ground is the answer. ;o) Drop more food. hahaha

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I am a strong proponent of this rule. :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

So are the doodles no doubt.

[Bonnie and Kona]

;o) No Doubt! When the grandkids visit they sit directly under their chairs during meals! Actually, I'm not sure the food ever hits the floor now that I think about it.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

lol, except with doodles it's not a 15 second rule because it would only take one or two seconds for them to sniff it out and gulp it up :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

My dogs practice this and they are healthy : )