Are Immigrant Kids Less Likely to Have Allergies?

According to ABC News, a recent study done by JAMA Pediatric on children born outside of the U.S. found that exposure to germs at an early age may actually be helpful down the road in preventing allergies and asthma.

In a culture that is obsessed with hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps and wipes, there's been discussion over whether or not exposure to germs is a good thing for children.

One study suggested that parents wiping off a baby's fallen pacifier with their mouth might reduce the risk of allergies later on, while the new study done by JAMA Pediatric suggests that American children may ironically be more susceptible to some upper respiratory ailments than their immigrant peers.

Researchers noted that children from developing countries were more likely to be exposed to infectious stimuli in their early years, effectively reducing their risk of developing allergies and asthma. 

Although factors such as socioeconomic status and ethnicity may play a role, this may be due to a strong correlation between those factors and being born outside of the U.S. with having fewer allergies. Researchers found that foreign-born children who spent only a couple years in the U.S. are far more likely to develop allergies than foreign-born kids who live in the country for a decade or more.

Being born outside of the U.S. does not "necessarily provide a shield after so much time has elapsed," as the researchers wrote that the odds of developing allergic disease "dramatically increase after living in the United States for longer than 10 years."

Compelling numbers went along with the study, as more than 10 percent of American kids suffer from asthma, while one in five children may have the skin disease, atopic dermatitis, a much higher percentage than immigrant children. In addition, it was found that only one-in-five foreign born children develop allergies, compared to the very high ratio of one-in-three U.S.-born children. 

Scientists are not suggesting that children with allergies should be exposed more to their allergens, be it trees, grass, dust or pet dander. Rather, their findings suggest that exposure to infectious stimuli and bacteria may help develop childrens' immune systems. It looks like germs are not always a bad thing for kids.