Hygiene Hypothesis

[Guest guest]

I'm interested to know if the idea of allowing children to have fever

(see below) has any currency in the theory of Chinese medicine. Is

there any equivalent theory in CM? Given that herbs and acupuncture

can reduce a fever significantly, should we adapt our treatment to

account for this theory?

 

In answer to my own question above, I think this is the sort of

relatively new information coming from a western source that could be

legitimately incorporated in Chinese medicine theory, regardless of

whether there is any equivalent information in pre-existing Chinese

texts. (that is if it is confirmed by further studies)

 

1. From the New York Times, Health section, today, Tuesday 2/10/04:

 

" Babies who develop several fevers in their first year are less

likely to develop allergies later in life, researchers said on Monday.

 

The study lends support to the so-called hygiene hypothesis, which

proposes that unless children's immune systems fight infections early

on, they can go into overdrive later and cause allergic reactions.

....

Writing in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr.

Christine Johnson of the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and

colleagues examined the medical records of 835 children from birth to

age 1.

 

They found that half the children who experienced no fever during

their first year had an allergic sensitivity by age 7.

 

Of those who had one fever, 46.7 percent were allergic or sensitive

by age 7. But this figure dropped to 31 percent among children who

suffered two or more fevers during infancy. ... "

 

Full article at:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/10/health/10BABY.html?pagewanted=all

 

2. From Acupuncture in the Treatment of Children (3rd edition, page

180). Julian Scott & Teresa Barlow. Eastland Press.

 

" Fevers are universally regarded as a " bad thing " , so it is usually

against the tide of orthodox opinion to suggest that fevers can be

beneficial. However, it does seem that fevers are an important part

of childhood. Of course, repeat fevers which need emergency treatment

cannot be regarded as beneficial, but occasional fevers going as high

as 40deg C seem to be part of the process of building a strong immune

system. "

 

Julian Scott implies that this idea is not from Chinese texts, but he

mentions it because it applies much more to " Western children, who

are not nearly as robust and healthy as Chinese children, and who

tend to be treated with antibiotics at the first sign of fever. "

 

Rory

--

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

, Rory Kerr <rorykerr@o...> wrote:

" Western children, who

> are not nearly as robust and healthy as Chinese children, and who

> tend to be treated with antibiotics at the first sign of fever. "

>

 

Really? I thought western children were healthier by all measures than

chinese (especially continental europeans where antibiotic use is also low).

In america (where antibiotic use is high), we are not treated with antibiotics

at the first sign of fever because we are weak and need them more but

because they are prescribed needlessly by western docs. Finally I found many

of my chinese colleagues very comfortable using antibiotics on themselves

and their children.

 

[Guest guest]

> , Rory Kerr <rorykerr@o...> wrote:

> " Western children, who

>> are not nearly as robust and healthy as Chinese children, and who

> > tend to be treated with antibiotics at the first sign of fever. "

 

At 6:59 AM +0000 2/11/04, wrote:

>Really? I thought western children were healthier by all measures than

>chinese (especially continental europeans where antibiotic use is also low).

>In america (where antibiotic use is high), we are not treated with antibiotics

>at the first sign of fever because we are weak and need them more but

>because they are prescribed needlessly by western docs. Finally I found many

>of my chinese colleagues very comfortable using antibiotics on themselves

>and their children.

--

 

 

 

To clarify, that is not my claim above, but Julian Scott's. It's a

verbatim quote from his book. I believe it's his opinion based on

observing children in China, England and the USA, and the opinions of

Chinese pediatricians he communicates with. In any event, I think we

can agree that suppression of fever is all too common, either with

antibiotics or nsaids.

 

I'm still interested in what you and others might think of the idea

of allowing fevers in children, and how that fits into treatment with

Chinese medicine.

 

Rory

--

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

because they are prescribed needlessly by western docs.

>>>>Todd often more so because parents demand them

Alon