do people of developed countries have less immune power compared to people in developing countries?

Question

some people say that because people of developed countries like US, UK etc live in very hygienic and bacteria/germ free conditions, and always drink water which is free from even relatively harmless germs, so their body is less immune to commonly found germs and bacteria in nature. they tend to get fever/illness far quicker than people in countries like india/pakistan/bangladesh and african countries where many people live in non-hygienic conditions, drink unclean water and yet do not get ill because over time immune power of their bodies increases a lot. after all we humans were designed by nature to live in forests, and to drink water from rivers etc which does have many type of micro-organisms, and to live in quite un-hygienic conditions.

Answer 1

The body developes immunity based upon the exposure to "invading things". These could be bacteria, viruses or allergens (dust etc). When body gets exposures to this, it learns to fight these and you develop immunity.

In developed countries, where sanitation is great, there is no/ lesser of viruses or bacteria etc. Since, body is not exposed to such "invaders", individual looses the immunity (the body does not know how to fight when exposed to invaders). However, being exposed to these helps you develop the immunity, over exposure could also backfire i.e. you become sensitized.

Answer 2

YES

Western tourists do get ill in southern Asia!
See the question is not about human evolution.........20000 years earlier we could digest raw meat!!

Considering the current human race,immunity strength depends entirely upon the external elements you are exposed too.
So if a child is brought in unhygenic conditions ,he will surely have a superior immunity when compared to a child born with silver spoon!

Same comparison for developed countries and developing countries.
Residents of the former have a virtually pathogen free environment compared to residents of developing or poor countries.

And HUMAN IMMUNITY is never permanent it changes as conditions change!

Answer 3

I thin what you say is true. That's why I don't take too many precautions against germs.
Examples:
1) I avoid antibacerial soap and only use mild moisturizing soap and limit hand washing to twice a day. Or if they stink really bad. I rarely wash them after leaving the bathroom.
2) I drop food on the floor and eat even it after even after a couple of minutes of it being there.
3) Even if someone is coughing and sneezing, I will still shake their hands.

Inspite of all this so-called "risky" behavior, I rarely get sick. I think the neurotic fear of germs is far more dangerous than the germs themselves.

Answer 4

It depends. I would say that healthier people have healthier immune systems.
The problem is that you are talking about various areas on the planet. There is no way I can become immune to a disease I have never encountered. Put a malnourished and a healthy person in a totally new environment and I predict the healthy person will do better.

Answer 5

Yes, your argument is correct. Gringos get violently ill in Tijuana. The locals often get slightly sick, but it never hits them that badly, because their immune systems can deal with it.

Many parents over-clean their young children. While you should give your kid baths, you should not leave them in a bubble or always be disinfecting every little thing they touch. Kids need exposure to germs to get used to them.

An interesting example is mononucleosis. In most of the world, all children are exposed as infants and never get too sick from it. Only in developed countries to some children escape the virus long enough to contract it later in life when it makes them truly ill.

Answer 6

It appears to be true.We studied the Serum Protein levels in 106 Normal(after a thorough elaborate,clinical exam,Chest x-ray,Lab investigations,ECG)by Paper Electrophoresis in Normal healthy adults of both sexes(50-60 years) in South India and published a paper(J.Assoc.Phys.India).In our study the gamma Globulin and Immuno globulins(igG etc-unpublished data) were more than the corresponding values of Euro-Americans of correponding age group.I think it is due to the exposure of Indians to relatively un-hygenic conditions and the producion of anti-bodies for the antigens entering through many micro-organisms-I think it can not be called as immune-power.Many people in the developing countries (enlisted above) die every year due to infectious diseases and very high infantile-mortality(due to infections).In developed countries many diseases like T.B.,Leprosy, Filariasis, Malaria, Typhoid and many tropical diseases are not at all seen.

Answer 7

I even do not understand. it would want to be because we had help for the reason that by the point SL were given attempt status, the different international places were already properly difficulty-free and able to lend us a assisting hand. So we had extra opportunities to play etc. Edit: it truly is hilarious that the mere aspect out that SL might want to properly be extra useful than India in even the slightest authentic way brings on any such tremendous type of thumbs downs.

Answer 8

It's true. Your immune system is built on the processes of identifying illnesses, learning the correct responses to beat them and then 'remembering'.

In the UK asthma has been linked to over hygeinic conditions!

Answer 9

This has been known for ages. When exposed to bacteria, antibodies are built up to ward off the bacteria.
Many cruds have the nicest softest skin burried under layers of stink. We have the choice to make. For me it's super-hygiene.