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Hygiene hypothesis challenged - (Oct/14/2012 )

The Hygiene Hypothesis and its implications for home hygiene, lifestyle and public health


authors challenge validity of hygiene hypothesis as commonly considered

http://www.ifh-homeh...a2?OpenDocument

-Phil Geis-

Huh, I didn't think this was anything new. I am sure I heard about that hypothesis more than 5 years ago.

There is also the addition to this hypothesis that loss of intestinal parasites such as the pinworms (treated for in western world) play a role in this rise in allergic type responses. The hypothesis doesn't suggest why different allergic syndromes are more common in different parts of the world though.

-bob1-

Thr hypothesis is about 20 years old. This paper challenges the validity of the hypothesis.

-Phil Geis-

I was meaning that the challenge to the hygiene hypothesis isn't new to me, though I didn't put it very well in my other post. I do also have to say that this challenge is just a variant of the hygiene hypothesis in my opinion, much like the intestinal parasite theory I mentioned in my other post.

-bob1-

It's more a formal update of the original hypothesis formulation than something really new
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20121003/e28098Hygiene-hypothesise28099-updated-to-e28098Old-Friendse28099-hypothesis.aspx

-El Crazy Xabi-

Thanks bob - I see. I think most microbiologists considered the hypothesis weak but few published in opposition. The support was largely from the medical community supported by alot of poor-designed studies that usually looked at asthma levels in fram kids vs. city kids.

-Phil Geis-