It's almost common knowledge that the best way to strengthen your immune system is by allowing yourself to be exposed to a variety of germs and conditions. It is the basis of vaccinations, which are highly effective at preventing specific illnesses. (In fact, some vaccination programs can effectively wipe out diseases, such as with small pox.) That's why I am not only amazed but concerned about parents attempting to keep their children in sanitary little bubbles by bleaching everything, giving them bottled water, using hand sanitizer, etc.
Sanitizers have the added problem of helping generate more resistant and dangerous strains of bacteria. Natural selection is accelerated in bacteria because they reproduce so quickly – developments so rapid that scientists can't even designate "species" but instead talk only of strains. If you use a sanitizer that kills "99% of all bacteria," that one percent that it doesn't kill will easily propagate itself into the next generation, which will, of course, possess that resistance.
In short, kids should probably be allowed to get a little dirty.
Comments
Please login to comment.
Login or Register${ comment.author }} at
${ comment.author }} at