Recent medical research shows that our middle-class obsession with cleanliness and avoiding weaning until late in infancy has rebounded in a western-world epidemic of childhood wheezing, sneezing and eczema with seven fold increases in peanut, cat, dust mite and pollen allergies. We are now encouraged rather to throw the cat in the cot, smother the baby in peanut butter and get those snotty cousins around to cough on little Hector. Yes, early exposure to farmyard dirt, bacteria, furry pets and nuts seems to be good and paradoxically prevents allergies, especially if there is high allergen exposure in the first few months of life. Health warnings to avoid allergens such as peanut in pregnancy and early infancy have actually led to increased peanut allergies and allergic sensitization in childhood.
Reference Clinical and Experimental Allergy July 2011:
Wegienka G, Johnson CC, Havstad S, Ownby DR, Nicholas C, Zoretti EM, Lifetime dog and cat exposure-and cat-specific sensitization at age 18 yrs Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 979-986
Erwin EA, Woodfolk JA, Ronmark E, Perzanowski M, Platts-Mills TAE The long-term protective effects of domestic animals in the home. Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 920-922
Kim JS, Jarvinen. Peanuts for preschoolers: less preposterous than previously perceived? Clinical and Experimental Allergy 2011 (41) 914-916
LEAP study (www.leapstudy.co.uk)
