2016
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2016-0443
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Thumb-Sucking, Nail-Biting, and Atopic Sensitization, Asthma, and Hay Fever

Abstract: The hygiene hypothesis suggests that early-life exposure to microbial organisms reduces the risk of developing allergies. Thumb-sucking and nail-biting are common childhood habits that may increase microbial exposures. We tested the hypothesis that children who suck their thumbs or bite their nails have a lower risk of developing atopy, asthma, and hay fever in a population-based birth cohort followed to adulthood.

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Cited by 22 publications
(12 citation statements)
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“…The relationship between gestational smoke exposure and childhood asthma development is well documented and presents a major health problem for generations to come (3,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)35). Only few follow-up studies have examined gene-environmental interactions on adult onset of asthma (36,37). A study, in which parental smoking exposure was assessed retrospectively by a questionnaire to adult offspring, has documented that both intrauterine exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke adversely affected adult lung function and increased risk for adult-onset asthma (12).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The relationship between gestational smoke exposure and childhood asthma development is well documented and presents a major health problem for generations to come (3,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)35). Only few follow-up studies have examined gene-environmental interactions on adult onset of asthma (36,37). A study, in which parental smoking exposure was assessed retrospectively by a questionnaire to adult offspring, has documented that both intrauterine exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke adversely affected adult lung function and increased risk for adult-onset asthma (12).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Nevertheless, we may have overshot the mark with our attempts to reduce the risk of pathogen exposure. Therefore, we should seek a more moderate attitude that facilitates exposure of our children to benign nonpathogenic microorganisms (91). The first attempts, such as exposure to maternal vaginal fluid after caesarean section or the administration of probiotic bacteria to preterm neonates, are being made (25,92,93).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Various evidence is consistent with the hygiene hypothesis in relation to allergies and autoimmune disorders. Children who sucked their thumbs or bit their nails have been shown to develop less atopic sensitization ( Lynch et al., 2016 ). Children who were born vaginally or whose parents sucked their pacifiers to clean them have less allergy, asthma, and/or eczema ( Hesselmar et al., 2013 ).…”
Section: Behavior Mood and The Immune Responsementioning
confidence: 99%