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The ‘Hygiene hypothesis’ and the sharp gradient in the incidence of autoimmune and allergic diseases between Russian Karelia and Finland |
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| Authors: | Anita Kondrashova Tapio Seiskari Jorma Ilonen Mikael Knip Heikki Hyöty |
| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Virology, University of Tampere, , Tampere;2. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fimlab Laboratories, , Tampere;3. Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of Eastern Finland, , Kuopio;4. Immunogenetics Laboratory, University of Turku, , Turku;5. Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, , Helsinki;6. Helsinki University Central Hospital, , Helsinki;7. Folkh?lsan Research Centre, , Helsinki;8. Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, , Tampere, Finland |
| Abstract: | Autoimmune and allergic diseases have become a major health problem in the Western world during past decades. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that decreased microbial exposure in childhood leads to increasing prevalence of these diseases. This review summarizes epidemiological evidence and current immunological knowledge concerning the hygiene hypothesis. Recent results from Russian Karelia and Finland imply that environmental factors have greatly contributed to the increasing prevalence of immune‐mediated disorders. Infections, or lack of them, may indeed be strongly involved in the development of both autoimmune and allergic diseases. |
| Keywords: | Hygiene hypothesis infections autoimmune diseases allergy Finland Russian Karelia |