Allergy Resistant: How Does Thumb-Sucking And Nail-Biting Help Children Fight Allergies?

Parents often scold their children when they see them biting their nails or sucking their thumbs. Most find it disgusting but these little habits actually help in the long run: people who like doing them develop a stronger resistance to allergies.

According to Mercola, an allergy is the body's reaction to foreign particles. An encounter with an allergen for the first time releases immunoglobulin E (IgE) which attaches to mast cells. These mast cells are activated when the body encounters the allergen again for the second time that people experience as sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, hacking cough, itchy eyes, etc.

The Washington Post reports a New Zealand research called the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study that is now in its fifth decade out of the initial 1,000 children its team of scientists have observed since birth. The participants simply had to detail their lives to the researchers. One report concerning allergies surfaced from this study.

Parents told the study authors that their children, at age 5, 7, 9, and 11, like thumb-sucking and nail-biting. When they turned 13 and 32, the then young thumb-suckers and nail-biters were given skin-prick tests as well as those who did not practice these habits.

As per Mayo Clinic, a skin-prick test is also called a puncture or scratch test that checks if a person is allergic to 40 different substances. The test is usually done to identify pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mite and food allergies.

At 13 years old, the results of the test showed that 38 percent of children who liked thumb-sucking and nail-biting had allergies while 49 percent who did not suck their thumbs or bit their nails had allergies. 31 percent of the thumb-suckers and nail-biters had lower risks of allergies. At 32, almost the same results were found.

Study lead author Bob Hancox offers an explanation: children who like thumb-sucking and nail-biting are exposed early to microbes which decreases their risk of developing allergies in the future. Some scholars are not convinced, saying that the study needs more analysis to establish a strong correlation. Nonetheless, the study aims to encourage parents to allow their children to get a little bit dirty while playing.

According to OMHDRU, the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study has been ongoing for over 40 years. It started in April 1, 1972 and has since then, produced over 1,150 publications and reports that reveals discoveries about human health, development and behavior.

Do you think the study presented sufficient evidence to link thumb-sucking and nail-biting to stronger resistance to allergies? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.