A new scientific report out today from the International
Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH)1 dismantles the myth that the epidemic
rise in allergies in recent years has happened because we’re living in sterile
homes and overdoing hygiene.
But far from saying microbial exposure is not important, the
report concludes that losing touch with microbial ‘old friends’ may be a
fundamental factor underlying rises in an even wider array of serious diseases.
As well as allergies, there are numerous other ‘chronic inflammatory diseases’
(CIDs) such as Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis which seem to stem from
impaired regulation of our immune systems. Deficiencies in microbial exposure
could be key to rises in both allergies and CIDs.