Does Parental Sucking of Their Infant's Pacifier Reduce Risk for Allergy?

The surprising answer supports the “hygiene hypothesis.”

The increasing prevalence of allergy among children in developed countries has been associated with reduced exposure to environmental microbes. The “hygiene hypothesis” is supported by a reduced risk for allergy in children living in poverty or crowded housing, or with early contact with animals and exposure to foodborne microbes. Researchers in Sweden examined whether pacifier cleaning practices affected risk for allergy in a prospective birth-cohort of 184 healthy full-term infants in an urban community (80% with at least one allergic parent).

Parents reported pacifier use and pacifier cleaning practices when children were age 6 months and kept a diary of food introduction, weaning, diseases, and medications during the first 6 months. At a…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics