The 'hygiene' hypothesis posits that children not being exposed to viruses and other environmental factors results in their not being able to build up resistance. This could make them more vulnerable to illnesses later in life.

Studies have shown that childhood infections such as chickenpox and the common cold help protect against later problems.

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Your body needs a certain amount of exposure to dirt and common viral infections to develop its immune system and protect itself. Children are not meant to be kept in sterile rooms being fed pills. They are meant to play outside, and, yes, catch a few bugs.

The concept is very similar to exercise. It is actually a good type of stress, but taken in excess, like most anything, it can be harmful.

Exposure to antibiotics, even the ones present in the processed meat you find in the grocery store, can also make it harder for you to treat common problems like urinary tract infections.

Over five years ago, the NEJM published a study that showed that children who became sick more frequently actually were protected against developing asthma.

That's not to say that antibiotics should never be prescribed. I am not opposed to their use in every circumstance, only to the reliance on them in situations where they are obviously of little or no use. But in my experience, that is well over 95 percent of the time they are prescribed.

When you consider that two out of three babies receive antibiotics by their first birthday, it is patently obvious that there are still some serious flaws in the current system.