In 1989 a causal link between atopic diseases and the microbiota community was discovered by Dr Strachan. He hypothesised that horizontal transmission naturally occurred in larger families due to the passing of organisms between siblings compared with smaller families.
Urban housebound children exposed to household irritants, smoking, cleaning products (toxic exposure), and air conditioning (dehumidifies the air) had a higher risk of immune dysfunction due to the lack of horizontal transmission of microbes (parasites, bacteria, and fungi) as well as an increase in lifestyle cleanliness (frequent bathing, soap use).
Our good bacteria need care and love, so it’s important to feed them with a varied diet rich in fruit and vegetables
Thus, a lack of exposure to microbes in infancy and childhood strongly correlated to dysbiosis classed as a reduction in the diversity of the microbiota living in the gut microbiome. The hygiene hypothesis focused on the function of helper T cells (Th1/Th2). Th2 was automatic at birth via vertical transmission in utero between mother and baby. Th1 is activated by exposure to environmental microbes and is a necessary part of balancing Th1 and Th2. Without microbial exposure, Th2 alone can overstimulate the immune response.
Adequate exposure to microbes before the age of three supports a healthy immune system in adulthood.
Furthermore adequate exposure to microbes before the age of three enhances regulatory T cells and their function, thus reducing atopic diseases. Studies have found that children on farms had increased exposure to a diverse range of microbes from animals and the soil, and were more likely to have a diverse range of commensal microbials and a reduced susceptibility to allergies compared with city dwelling children.
Kids love being out in nature and exposed to mud
You have nothing to fear from mud play. It might look dirty, but it is full of beneficial bacteria, scientifically proven to be critical for their growing immune systems, making them less vulnerable to allergies and diseases. Always supervise a small child, and stay away from stagnant water that might breed pathogens . Some examples of mud-play include playing barefoot in the muddy puddles directly after the rain or giving them a safe area in your garden to make a mud pie. Give them free rein to experiment and explore mud-play.