Do you think exposing a child to pets, dirt will actually built up their immune system?

Question

I had some sickly nephew and neices, their parents kept their house clean as a whisle

They mom would bleach all their socks, use antibacterial detergent. Yet, they have all the allergies in the world and multiple ear infections?

Answer 1

Common sense would tell you that if you keep your child in a bubble, so to speak, they will not be able to function without that bubble.
Yes, if you expose your children to the normal things in life, they will be less likely to develop alergies. Not that it is not possible, but it is a lot less likely!
If you take, lets say an antibiotic like augmentin for every ear infection you get as an infant/child, your body starts to build up an immunity towards it and the Dr has to then give you something else because the Augmentin won't work anymore. The same holds true for everything else we come in contact with as we grow up. If we are outside alot, or have pets as a child we most likely will not develop alergies.
But, if we have never been introduced to anything, how can our system build up a resistance or even know how to respond to it!
What you are thinking is absolutly correct!

Answer 2

Well - I believe that the inside of a house that is as clean and germ free as possible certainly can't be a bad thing....But...At the same time, the kids will be better of in the long run if they aren't stuck in that sterile place too much. They need to get out into the world with dirt and grass, playgrounds etc..If they're kept away from everything like playing outside and at other childrens houses to keep them from catching anything, then when they are around these things it will affect them more and worse then if they had the chance to build up an immunity.
The child innoculations actually GIVE a small amount of the bacterias that cause the diseases to begin with, so that the child will build an immunity to them without actually getting it full out...The antibodies that they build up will actually protect them...
Chicken Pox is a good example. The younger they get it the better off they are. 1. It's easier for their bodies to handle it ~ and 2. They're immune to ever catching it again ~ for the rest of they're lives...

Answer 3

I don't know about immunity... but i do know that my kids have pets and play hard outside w/ dirt and mud etc... and they are not sick more than any of my friends kids.... I have a boy 12 and 2 girls 4, & 3.... But having pets and letting them play outside and get dirty has made them use their imaginations and get excersie daily( I have never had more physical activity in yrs....either) .... Have they had allergy testing on them... maybe that would help... or vitamins( my 3 yr old has done better since the D.R. put her on vitamins w/ cold etc... especially w/ summer and all the changes in the climate around here..... Best Wishes

Answer 4

I believe it does. I don't remember where but I'm sure I read that children exposed to more than one pet have a reduced chance of getting asthma. Yes, I definitely think that being exposed to germs builds the immune system. I think it's been proved--immunizations are based on this fact.

Answer 5

Yes, because the immune system can't build an immunity to things it's not been exposed to!

Answer 6

I think its great to let kids play in dirt and mud.I have meet quite afew parents who's kids must always be clean, they seem to always have one bug or another. I live on a farm, my kids play in the dirt and mud and are hardly ever sick

Answer 7

exposure to regular househpld germ does build up immunity.

kids with pets have been shown to have fewer allergies than kids without.

sorry i don't have a handy source for this.