Fevers in babies reduce allergies later in life

Main Category: Allergy
Article Date: 04 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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According to researchers from Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, babies' fevers may be necessary to help them overcome allergies.

They examined the records of 835 kids enrolled since birth in The Childhood Allergy Study.

They recorded illnesses with documented fevers. A fever means a temperature of over 101 degrees (Fahrenheit) for a baby under the age of one. When these kids reached seven years of age, half of them were tested for reactions to dust mites, cats, dogs, bluegrass and ragweed.

50% of the children who never had a fever during their first year registered at least one allergy when they were seven. Of those who had had one fever as an infant, 46.7% had at least one allergy at seven. Of those who had had two or more fevers only 31.3% had at least one allergy at seven.

Could it be that infants who are more exposed to bacteria and dirt are less likely to develop allergies later in life? Dr. Anthony S Fauci wonders whether too much hygiene may be a factor in the increase in allergies. He is Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (USA).

You can read about this study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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