This can cause a runny nose. A combination of genetic and environmental factors is believed to influence the development of a child’s immune system around the time of birth. text Allergies are common. Approximately one in every 13 Canadians suffer from a significant food allergy (sciencedaily). However, there is concern that we have all fallen into a compulsive cleaning culture. While pristine hygienic conditions are undeniably becoming the norm, excessive cleanliness could be hurting your future child. Studies show that childhood allergy development is linked to increased hygienic conditions. The answer lies in the hygiene hypothesis, a heavily supported theory that explores our likelihood of developing allergic reactions. In early life, the immune system acts like clay, and is shaped by experiences within the …show more content…
During this time, the surrounding environment has the potential to alter a child’s sensitivity to allergens because its immune system is still characterising antigens as harmful or safe. “In the Western world, the percentage of children who suffer from immune-system overreactions like allergies and asthma has roughly doubled in the past 40 years or so, even as infectious diseases have become much less common” (). Excessively sanitary conditions during these critical time points have resulted in children with suppressed immune system development and increased susceptibility to allergies compared to traditional Amish households, which drink unpasteurized milk and practice animal raising. The traditional Amish lifestyle provides diverse exposure to foreign antigens and consequently a strong link with a reduction in allergy development later in