allergies/IBS/asthma and hookworms
We saw a film on worms today in microbiology -- great shots of guinea worms coming out the feet and some 10 year old getting a big ol' honkin fly larvae pulled out of her neck.
One segment was of particular interest. There are researchers working on the idea that because most of the world has eradicated hookworms and such through clean drinking water, the result is that we have decreased immunity and increased allergies. Allergies, asthma, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome are definitely on the uptick, and some think it's because we've severed an interdependent relationship with intestinal fauna.
All these cases were covered in the film:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3287733.stm
One segment was of particular interest. There are researchers working on the idea that because most of the world has eradicated hookworms and such through clean drinking water, the result is that we have decreased immunity and increased allergies. Allergies, asthma, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome are definitely on the uptick, and some think it's because we've severed an interdependent relationship with intestinal fauna.
All these cases were covered in the film:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3287733.stm
true story, my cousin returned from belize with many fly larva filled cysts...a serious infection followed (natch) but she is fine now. more interestingly, in their first year of marriage whilst in the wilds of Brazil my father had to slowly remove a tape worm from my mother using a popsicle stick as a spool. my mother says that was where she learned the meaning of unconditional love. sweet really...
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