Mice Dig Holes in the “Hygiene Hypothesis”
New evidence suggests exposure to microbes in early childhood might not protect against allergies. The post Mice Dig Holes in the “Hygiene Hypothesis” appeared first on Nautilus.
by Lina Zeldovich
Oct 05, 2023
3 minutes
An empire of dirt awaits the newborn baby: dirty floors, dirty yards, dirty pets, dirty toys. In recent years, many parents have taken to letting their babies roam this scuzzy terrain freely without immediately applying soap and scrub brush. The dirtier, the better.
The parents are motivated by the “hygiene hypothesis,” a popular theory that posits that excessive cleanliness can reduce germs needed to educate the immune systems of babies and young kids. This, according to the hypothesis, could put children at
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