Farmyard bugs may counter asthma in young

Farmyard bugs may help children to avoid asthma, a study suggests.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2011, 08:45 BST

Scientists believe the discovery could pave the way to a vaccine for the condition which affects 1.1 million children in the UK.

Researchers have identified several types of “dirty” bacteria and fungi that seem to reduce the chances of developing asthma.

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The micro-organisms are linked to known lower rates of asthma among children who grow up on farms.

The evidence provides strong support for the “hygiene hypothesis” which suggests children’s immune systems are not primed properly if they live in too-clean conditions.

Some experts think this could account for rising rates of asthma. The research was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.