Multiple epidemiological studies and reviews support the hygiene hypothesis, demonstrating that reduced microbial exposure and early-life disruptions to the microbiome (such as through antibiotic use) increase the risk of developing allergies.
Evidence for · 6
Human Helminths and Allergic Disease: The Hygiene Hypothesis and Beyond
2016 · cited by 45
Paper [0] discusses the hygiene hypothesis, explaining how a lack of early microbial and parasitic exposure alters immune development to favor allergic conditions.
Evidence against · 1
The influence of early-life animal exposure on the risk of childhood atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: findings from the Danish National Birth Cohort
2023 · cited by 18
Paper [2] reports that the overall associations between early-life animal exposure (a proxy for microbial richness) and allergic diseases were weak, suggesting the relationship is more nuanced.
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More for · 5
In utero or early in life exposure to antibiotics and the risk of childhood atopic dermatitis, a population-based cohort study
2023 · cited by 19
Paper [1] shows that early-life antibiotic exposure, which disrupts the microbiome similarly to excessive hygiene, increases the risk of childhood atopic dermatitis.
Antibiotic exposure during pregnancy increases risk for childhood atopic diseases: a nationwide cohort study
2024 · cited by 13
Paper [3] finds that prenatal antibiotic exposure increases the risk of childhood atopic diseases in a dose-dependent manner.
Neonatal and early infancy antibiotic exposure is associated with childhood atopic dermatitis, wheeze and asthma
2024 · cited by 9
Paper [4] links early infancy antibiotic use to higher rates of atopic dermatitis and asthma.
Association between antibiotic exposure and childhood atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
2025 · cited by 9
Paper [5] provides a comprehensive meta-analysis confirming that early-life and prenatal antibiotic exposure significantly increases the risk of childhood atopic dermatitis.
Hen’s Egg Allergy: Immunological Mechanisms, Epidemiology, and Predictors of Persistence in Childhood
2026 · cited by 0
Paper [8] notes that limited microbial exposure is one of the factors increasing the risk of allergic sensitization such as egg allergy.