Allergy rises not down to being too clean, just losing touch with 'old friends'

[DavidDvorkin]

A new scientific report out today from the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH) dismantles the myth that the epidemic rise in allergies in recent years has happened because we're living in sterile homes and overdoing hygiene.

But far from saying microbial exposure is not important, the report concludes that losing touch with microbial 'old friends' may be a fundamental factor underlying rises in an even wider array of serious diseases. As well as allergies, there are numerous other 'chronic inflammatory diseases' (CIDs) such as Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis which seem to stem from impaired regulation of our immune systems. Deficiencies in microbial exposure could be key to rises in both allergies and CIDs.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/lsoh-arn100212.php

[KurtNYC]

1. so package these microbes and sell them in pills (?)

On the other hand, it might be GMO food and every other way we have screwed with the environment, no?

[kestrel91316]

2. Whoever wrote this nonsense needs a course in remedial comprehension.

".......dismantles the myth that the epidemic rise in allergies in recent years has happened because we're living in sterile homes and overdoing hygiene...." = allergies NOT due to decreased bacterial exposure.

"....Deficiencies in microbial exposure could be key to rises in both allergies and CIDs...." = allergies may be due to decreased bacterial exposure.

Ok, WHICH IS IT????????



ETA kestrel's educated guess: An idle immune system is the Devil's plaything. Bacteria are our friends.

[LiberalAndProud]

3. I'm guessing you didn't read the article.

Presenting the report findings in Liverpool today at Infection Prevention 2012, the national conference of the UK and Ireland's Infection Prevention Society, co-author of the report and Honorary Professor at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor Sally Bloomfield explains: "The underlying idea that microbial exposure is crucial to regulating the immune system is right. But the idea that children who have fewer infections, because of more hygienic homes, are then more likely to develop asthma and other allergies does not hold up."

[kestrel91316]

4. No, and I didn't need to. The two statements in the snippet are directly contradicting each other.

I have learned and forgotten more immunology, bacteriology, mycology, virology, and pathology than most humans could ever fathom, BTW. So it's not like I don't know what I am talking about.

[pansypoo53219]

5. i have always been close to microbes. mother not a cleany. i preferred dirt to dolls.

RARELY did not eat what fell on the floor. dusting? well, radiators + no wall to wall cute down on dust. cats are pretty clean tho. i despise anything that says anti-bacterial. get butcher meat. but i still got hay fever, which i treat with local honey.

[Barack_America]

6. This is ridiculous. MS and type 1 diabetes have nothing to do with microbes.

And I love that this "Sally Bloomfield" person wrote the article and quotes herself in it.