Are Children Who Grow Up on Traditional Farms Protected From Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Allergic Sensitization?

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have revealed that children who grow up on traditional farms are protected from asthma, hay fever and allergic sensitization. It has been speculated that allergic diseases may replace infectious diseases in developing countries and should be prioritized and treated as a major public health problem. Exposure to farming materials at early life such livestock, mostly cattle, pigs and poultry; contact with animal feed such as hay, grain, straw and silage; and the consumption of unprocessed cow’s milk have been identified as most farm protective elements. This review discusses the evidences supporting the claim that children from rural areas who grow up on farms are at a significantly lower risk of developing these conditions than children who live in the same rural area but do not grow up on farms.