hygiene hypothesis


The theory that the clean modern lifestyle and lack of early childhood exposure to dirt, bacteria and other pathogens weaken the immune system, and increase susceptibility to allergies and asthma

hygiene hypothesis

Allergy medicine The theory that a clean modern lifestyle alters the immune system, ↑ susceptibility to allergies. See Leipzig disparity.

hy·giene hy·poth·e·sis

(hī'jēn hī-poth'ĕ-sis) The tenet that improved cleanliness and modern medical care may be lowering the ability of people to deal with otherwise nonlethal pathogens and disease.