Allergies and the Hygiene Hypothesis
What is behind the rise in childhood allergies? One theory is that an emphasis on hygiene means we are no longer exposing children to enough bacteria to help trigger their natural immune systems. Dr. Hugh Sampson, professor of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, offers Debbie Elliott some medical background.
Related NPR Stories
Schools Take Precautions Against Nut Allergies Dec. 9, 2006
Comments
Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.