---
title: Hygiene hypothesis
date: "2006-06-21T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 292
description: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that early childhood exposure to germs, household dust, and infections from siblings can prime the immune system, potentially reducing the risk of developing allergies and other diseases later in life.
keywords: [hygiene hypothesis, immunology, allergies, childhood infections, household dust, immune system]
---

According to the [hygiene hypothesis](http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2006/06/16/rats-hygiene.html), exposure early in life to infections from household dust, germy siblings or surfaces may reduce the risk of developing disease in adulthood.