Can Exposure To Dirt Reduce Allergies?

Allergies & Dirt by Jane Thurnell-Read

The obsession with the danger of germs is thought to have led to an increase in allergies. Much of this obsession with cleanliness seems to be driven by the media and advertising. Headlines about killer bugs, and advertisements that claim their products kill even more germs have led many to buy more and more products to wipe out these dangerous enemies. But current thinking among some researchers and doctors is that a certain level of dirt is good for us particularly during infancy and early childhood when the immune system is maturing. This is known as the hygiene hypothysis.

T-helper cells in the immune system direct the immune system reactions. In pregnancy the T-helper cells that attack invaders directly without producing antibodies are downplayed as these could lead the mothers system to reject the foetus. This means that the T-helper cells, which are responsible for antibody reactions, are more prominent. These are the ones that are involved in allergic reactions. The new babys immune system has the same emphasis as the mothers had during pregnancy. It is believed that the exposure of the very young to some level of dirt is beneficial in that it rebalances the immune system to emphasise the T-helper cells that are not involved in the allergy process. In an excellent article ( New Scientist July 18th 1998) Garry Hamilton talks about the gentler side of germs. If the young are not exposed to dirt, the immune system does not go through this rebalancing process, and a tendency to allergy can result. Linda Gamblin in The Allergy Bible cites several medical research projects, which support the idea of allowing children to be exposed to dirt and minor infections to help protect against allergies.

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