Page 57 - RP-MAY-2021

52 HEALTH MOTHER AND BABY FROM PAGE 51 may lead to “a cluster of pandemic youth that grow up to suffer higher than average rates of allergies, asthma and autoimmune disease”. However, contrary to this, an article published by the Sydney-based Heart Research Institute4 by Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Partnerships, Victoria University, together with Maja Husaric and Maximilian de Courten, suggests that research refutes the hygiene hypothesis because there are “multiple other reasons for the increased incidence of allergies, asthma and certain autoimmune conditions”. Professor Apostolopoulos says the measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19 will help to do just that, “help curb the spread of the coronavirus”, “but won’t eliminate all microbes from our lives”. The immune system and how it develops An article published on the website of California’s Stanford Children’s Health5 describes the immune system as effectively the “physical barrier that protects your body from invaders”, being made up of “the skin, the eye’s cornea, and the mucous membrane that lines the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts”. There are two types of immune system: the innate system, which is inherited, and the adaptive immune system, which is developed “when your body is exposed to microbes or chemicals released by microbes”, the article says.6 Alyx Fox, acute medical, respiratory and infectious disease nurse at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital, says the development of the immune system begins during pregnancy and at birth. “Antibodies are passed onto the baby during labour through the birth canal and then through breast milk/ colostrum,” she said. “However, a baby’s immune system is still by no means as strong as an adult’s. From my knowledge, an immune system is developed and strengthened each time you’re exposed to viruses or bugs or germs ... The more a child is exposed to new situations ... the more the child builds an immune system.” “This does mean the child will get sick from time to time. I actually read a study a while ago that showed children growing up in a house with pets had a lower acute disease rate – for example, asthma – after the age of seven than those in houses with no pets. “However, immune systems can be compromised if the child is born with an immunodeficiency or other chronic condition,” she continued. “So, it’s best to check what’s safe in regard to exposure with your paediatrician first.” Community pharmacist and master herbalist Gerald Quigley says that without bacteria, “the immune system cannot and will not function properly”. “So, under the hygiene hypothesis, there are suggestions that improved hygienic conditions ... may reduce early life exposure to microbes \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\[and may result in a\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] heightened risk of allergic disease and other immune disorders,” he said. “Now that’s the theory. But essentially, this heightened risk of immune disorders happens because reduced exposure to germs might result in reduced stimulation of the immune system. Remember: immune systems respond to a threat of a viral or bacterial infection. So, anything that might dampen RETAIL PHARMACY • MAY 2021 TO PAGE 54