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Hygiene Hypothesis in Asthma Development: Is Hygiene to Blame?
Erik van Tilburg Bernardes1, Marie-Claire Arrieta1
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology,; Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Canada.
Archives of Medical Research
|December 12, 2017
Summary
The Hygiene Hypothesis suggests reduced infections prevent allergies, but this review questions its universal applicability. It highlights genetic and environmental factors influencing asthma across diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Allergic diseases like asthma and eczema are epidemic in industrialized nations.
- The Hygiene Hypothesis initially proposed reduced infections in younger siblings protect against allergies.
- The 'old friends' or microbiota hypothesis implicates microbial exposure in immune regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on genetic and environmental factors in asthma.
- To evaluate the role of hygiene in asthma and allergic disease pathogenesis.
- To address limitations of the Hygiene Hypothesis in diverse global settings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological and genetic studies on asthma.
- Analysis of factors contributing to allergic diseases in various human populations.
- Synthesis of evidence regarding the hygiene hypothesis and asthma.
Main Results:
- Epidemiological data supports the Hygiene Hypothesis in some industrialized settings.
- The hypothesis often fails to explain asthma incidence in less affluent regions.
- Genetic and environmental factors play significant roles in asthma development.
Conclusions:
- Caution is advised when solely associating hygiene with asthma and allergy pathogenesis.
- A multifactorial approach considering genetics and environment is crucial.
- Further research is needed to understand asthma's global epidemiology.
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