Protective Effect of
Childhood Infections
Several articles in the February 2001 issue of the
British Medical Journal discuss the actual benefits that childhood colds
and infections play on developing a normal and healthy immune system.
According to the articles, having many older siblings; attending day care
at an early age; growing up on a farm and in frequent contact with cattle,
poultry, and cats; and having childhood measles and infections
such as hepatitis A are all helpful in promoting normal immunological
maturation and in preventing disease.
Additionally, repeated viral infections other than
lower respiratory tract infections, early in life may reduce
the risk of developing asthma up to school age.
Another important conclusion of the article was that the
risk of developing asthma by the age of 7 is reduced by about
50% percent in children with two or more reported episodes of
common cold by the age of 1 year. These findings
lead to the conclusion that children who fight a variety of normal
childhood diseases develop strong and more potent immune systems.
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