Ask Dr. Cavallo
Will exposing kids to germs help protect them from allergies and asthma later on?
People usually become immune to more germs as their immune systems come into contact with germs and their bodies learn to recognize and attack them. So getting sick does build immunity as you get older.
But allergic disorders, like asthma, eczema and allergies, are tied to genetics. It’s hard to say for sure whether the immune system is going to overreact to allergens like pollen, mold or animal dander. Medical experts don’t know all of the answers when it comes to explaining which kids will develop allergic disorders, but it is clear that genetics play a big role.
We do know kids in daycare get sick more often. Six to 10 times a year is not uncommon, whether it’s colds, rashes or stomach bugs. It does mean more doctor visits and things like ear infections.
Older kids tend to handle colds and ear infections better. Most scientists say the critical time for the immune system is in the first three months of life, maybe even the first nine months. So I tell parents, if you can minimize exposure in the first year of life, you’re limiting the risk of your child getting Respiratory Syncytial Virus, a viral disease of the lungs that can cause long-term lung damage, and you’re limiting ear infections.
A daycare choice is largely a family and financial decision, but a private or small setting would be the optimum choice during the first year.
While kids are more likely to get infections in a large daycare setting, there is research that backs up the idea that children who are around numerous other children and animals early in life have stimulated immune systems that develop more tolerance for the irritants that cause asthma and allergies. It’s called the “hygiene hypothesis.”
In some studies, these exposures do seem to protect against future asthma and allergies. However, a recent study out of the Netherlands suggests that by age 8 there are no differences in kids who attended daycare early on versus those who did not.
The kids who are going to have problems are usually the ones with a family history of allergies, eczema and asthma.
The bottom line is that even though we don’t know all of the answers, we live in a society where everybody tries to limit the exposure to germs and allergens. In the whole evolving American lifestyle, less exposure could mean when you are exposed to things it’s a bigger deal.
But it’s not just about exposure. We can’t forget that genetics play a huge role in all of this. You’re much more likely to have allergies and asthma if there’s a family history of it.
Charles Cavallo, MD, is a pediatrician with Pediatric Associates, PSC, in Northern Kentucky.
