Editor's note

Rates of allergies have increased in recent decades. The “hygiene hypothesis” suggested this was because children were becoming too hygienic and were therefore exposed to fewer early infections in early childhood than previous generations.

But newer research suggests early exposure to disease-causing bugs doesn’t prevent allergies.

As Emily Johnston Flies and Philip Weinstein explain, good hygiene practices, such as hand washing, are critical for reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as influenza and even the Wuhan coronavirus.

Instead, parents should focus on getting their children outdoors and into nature. This will expose them to a range of microbes and could protect them against asthma and allergies.

Fron Jackson-Webb

Deputy Editor/Senior Health + Medicine Editor

Top stories

Katya Shut/Shutterstock

Early exposure to infections doesn’t protect against allergies, but getting into nature might

Emily Johnston Flies, University of Tasmania; Philip Weinstein, University of Adelaide

We used to think the rise in allergies was because we weren't exposed to as many early infections as previous generations. But that's not the case.

Lukas Coch/AAP

Grattan on Friday: In tune with the summer, a week of wildness starts the parliamentary year

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

As this week showed, a clean end to a ministerial scandal is seldom possible. Even so, the aftershocks of the sports rorts affair have been major, and they’ll continue to plague the government.

Australian Navy

No food, no fuel, no phones: bushfires showed we’re only ever one step from system collapse

Anthony Richardson, RMIT University

How could a nation like Australia come close to a humanitarian crisis during the recent bushfires? A problem-solving theory called "systems thinking" can help us find out.

IMDB

Friday essay: Hail Hydra - on comics, ethics and politics

Damon Young, University of Melbourne

The Marvel Cinematic Universe brings the virtues and politics of the comic world - indeed the Ancient Greek world - to life. But trusting the message doesn't mean I trust the corporation behind it.

Business + Economy

Science + Technology

Politics + Society

Education

Cities

  • As big cities get even bigger, some residents are being left behind

    Sajeda Tuli, University of Canberra; Shakil Bin Kashem, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    The knowledge economy creates clear winners and losers in the big cities whose growth it drives. Many Australian and US cities with strong knowledge economies have high levels of social vulnerability.

Arts + Culture

Health + Medicine

  • Curious Kids: why do we make saliva?

    Arosha Weerakoon, The University of Queensland

    Spit, drool, dribble, slaver, slobber or sputum – saliva has many different names. It also has many different jobs.

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