Don't Just Eat Dirt, Breathe Dirt!

Colonization with a variety of microbes from early childhood appears to be important for balanced immunologic development,

Studies have shown that growing up on a farm is associated with reduced risk for asthma, possibly through stimulation of the innate immune system in early life. These data are supportive of the so-called hygiene hypothesis (see N Engl J Med 2002; 347:869, 347:930).

Recently, researchers in Germany analyzed data from two large cross-sectional studies comparing microbial exposures of farm-dwelling and non–farm-dwelling children in central Europe.

In the PARSIFAL study (6843 participants), researchers analyzed mattress dust samples for environmental bacteria via DNA signatures, which detect bacteria that cannot be measured by culture. In the GABRIELA study (9668 participants), researchers used culture techniques to evaluate bacterial and fungal …

Reviewing Author

Mary Wu Chang, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Pierre Fabre; Valeant

Speaker’s bureauPierre Fabre

Mary Wu Chang, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Pierre Fabre; Valeant

Speaker’s bureauPierre Fabre

Don't Just Eat Dirt, Breathe Dirt!

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Reviewing Author