Slashdot Mirror


Want To Fight Allergies? Get a Dirty Dog

sciencehabit writes "A dog in the house is more than just good company. There's increasing evidence that exposure to dogs and livestock early in life can lessen the chances of infants later developing allergies and asthma. Now, researchers have traced this beneficial health effect to a microbe living in the gut. Their study, in mice, suggests that supplementing an infant's diet with the right mix of bacteria might help prevent allergies — even without a pet pooch."

1 of 147 comments (clear)

  1. Makes sense by ls671 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It makes sense. I have always said that keeping your kids in an aseptic environment is not helping them to build resistance for when they get out to the real world at some point.

    Do you remember that South Park episode where the parents would get their kids with other sick kids for them to also get sick? Well, there is some truth to it...

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenpox_(South_Park)

    --
    Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.