ARE SNIFFLES A SIGN OF INNATE INTELLIGENCE?

A runny nose may be a sign that a child's innate intelligence is at work preventing disease. According to a report in tomorrow's issue of the British Medical Journal, repeated viral infections slash a youngster's odds of developing asthma.

As part of the analysis, researchers in Germany tracked 1,314 children from birth to age seven. Findings revealed that youngsters who experienced two or more bouts of runny nose during their first year of life had half the risk of asthma than their peers who had fewer episodes of the sniffles. Repeated viral infections including upper respiratory tract infections, herpes and measles were also linked with a reduced risk of allergy at age five. In contrast, repeated lower respiratory infections upped the risk of asthma.

"Our results suggest that repeated viral infections other than lower respiratory tract infections early in life may stimulate the immature immune system, thereby reducing the risk for the development of asthma up to school age," explained the authors.

Researchers speculate that a focus on averting even mild infections through antibiotics and overly sterile environments may be to blame for the rocketing rates of childhood asthma.

BMJ ­ February 17, 2001;322:390-5. http://www.bmj.com/

for more, visit www.craiganderson.net