Research from Germany suggests that babies exposed to a bacterial component in house dust may be less likely to develop the allergy-related skin condition eczema than children who live in cleaner homes.

But parents shouldn't get too happy about a dusty house. The infants in the study living in the dustiest homes were more likely to experience a variety of respiratory ailments in the first 6 months of life, such as wheezing, bronchitis and infection.

Previous research suggests that common house dust contains endotoxin, a component from the cell walls of several different kinds of bacteria.

Experts speculate that when babies are exposed to infectious agents or their components, it might cause changes in the immune system that reduces the risk of developing certain allergy-related conditions.

This theory is known as the "hygiene hypothesis."

To investigate the relationship between endotoxin and eczema, the team of researchers evaluated the health and homes of 1,884 infants. "House dust from the mother's and children's mattress was sampled 3 months after birth," the report indicates.

During the first 6 months of life, babies living in homes with the highest levels of endotoxin had about half the risk of eczema as those with cleaner living quarters.

On the other hand, these same children were more likely to suffer respiratory infections. The risk of wheezing more than doubled for these same infants at 6 months, and at age 1 their risk of wheezing was 1.6 times higher than those in relatively dust-free homes, the authors add.

The study supports the hygiene hypothesis that exposure to high concentrations of endotoxin very early in life might protect against the development of atopic (allergy-related) eczema, along with increased risk prevalence of non-specific respiratory disease.

In infants and young children, eczema manifests as intensely itchy, red patches that can ooze and crust over.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology November 2001;108:847-854

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Further proof that God designed our bodies to respond to the bacteria in the world. We needn't become obsessed with killing all of them with disinfectants. That doesn't mean that we should ignore good health practices, particularly keeping our kitchen clean. Fortunately, treatment of most all eczema responds quite well to nutrient manipulation. Nearly all the patients I have seen with this respond favorably to a complete elimination of gluten from their diet and following the eating plan. Supplements such as Carlson's cod liver oil and Evening Primrose Oil are also particularly beneficial. I also find that coconut oil applied directly to the skin is particularly effective as a natural moisturizer and the body actually uses it as a food once it is absorbed through the skin. This is unlike most all other moisturizers which are actually quite toxic and must be eliminated by the liver. Optimizing the bacteria in the gut is also an important approach. Related Articles: Bacteria In House Dust May Help Prevent Allergies "Hygeine Hypothesis" of Asthma Beneficial Bacteria (Probiotics) May Halt Allergies In Babies Probiotics In Primary Prevention Of Atopic Disease