Quote:
Originally posted by Not Bob
Amazing. I don't mean to minimize the danger (this girl will apparently croak if she eats a legume or a nut), but how and when did this explosion of severly allergic kids happen?
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There are opposing schools of thought, and it is likely that both contribute to the increase. One is that we have an ever-increasing exposure to "chemicals" - (best interpreted as organic and immunogenic compounds not commonly found in nature). Perhaps more relevant for adult onset asthma and similar conditions.
The other is that we are too clean. By preventing exposure to viruses at an early age, our immune systems are altered to be predisposed to allergies. In which case sending the young'uns to day care would seem to be a prudent health precaution (to maximize exposure to everyday pathogens).
