Is an obsession for cleanliness making us less healthy?
It is neither possible, nor desirable, to live in a germ-free world. What’s more, becoming obsessed about germs is unnecessary. Over the last century, protection against infectious disease – through antibiotics, vaccines, water purification, sanitation and hygiene – have dramatically improved our health and increased our life expectancy. Now, some scientists wonder whether this success could also reduce our immunity to infection, or help make us more prone to allergies and asthma. Others strongly disagree. If such an effect on our immunity were ever demonstrated, the challenge would be to find ways of avoiding these problems without risking all the protection we’ve gained, and lead to cases of infectious disease increasing again. As far as home hygiene is concerned, the targeted approach outlined here would represent an ideal answer as it tackles the real risks of infection yet allows plenty of exposure to germs to maintain our immunity. By highlighting the times and places when germs
