Being too clean weakens your child's immunity

Exceptionally clean living environment and the taking of antibiotics may be linked to children's food allergies, says research.   

Mice that were raised in a sterile environment or given antibiotics early in life lacked a common gut bacteria that appears to prevent food allergies, finds researchers. The bacterium, called Clostridia, appears to minimise the likelihood that rodents will become allergic to peanuts, and researchers would like to find out if it does the same in people.