Exploring Hygiene Hypotheses: The Balance Between Cleanliness and Health
The development of our immune system begins from the moment we are in our mother's womb. Numerous factors contribute to its formation, with breast milk playing a vital role. Breast milk contains numerous preformed antibodies that enter the baby's body, providing immunity until its own body becomes capable of combating infections. Additionally, various environmental exposures also contribute to strengthening the immune system.
In 1989, Dr. David Strachan proposed the hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that exposure to specific bacteria and allergens can lower the occurrence of allergies and the risk of infections or autoimmune diseases in adulthood. This is attributed to children's exposure to pathogenic elements, triggering an immune response and stimulating helper T cells (Th2), leading to antibody production that provides future protection. Reduced exposure results in fewer antibodies formed. These antibodies, known as immunoglobulins (proteins), bind to foreign antigens upon subsequent entry into the body and neutralize them.
Maintaining good hygiene is crucial in preventing infections and diseases. It is imperative to instil hygiene habits from early childhood. Creating awareness about basic hygiene practices, such as handwashing, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wearing clean clothes, and maintaining distance while talking, is essential.Dr Darshit Patel
The hygiene hypothesis is a misnomer as people interpret it as being related to hygienic activities. However, it is important to maintain cleanliness in at-risk populations like the elderly or people with chronic long-term diseases.
The concept of the "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that the increase in autoimmune and allergic diseases can be attributed to the decline in infection rates, particularly in developed and Western countries. This hypothesis is supported by epidemiological evidence, particularly migration studies that show individuals who relocate from nations with low rates of immunological diseases to those with higher incidence during early childhood.
Manipulation of the immune system can help in reducing allergies by exogenously providing probiotics that improve the gut microbiota. Helminths therapy also helps in preventing various autoimmune disorders by deliberately infesting intestines with helminthic larvae.
We all know that hygiene is essential to prevent risks of infectious diseases hence we cannot demarcate yet how much or how less cleanliness is required. On the one hand vaccination and a clean environment is essential however exposure to the surrounding world is equally required.