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A comment on Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and Nail Biting.

Re:Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and N... by dpflan on Wednesday July 20, 2016 @11:58AM (#12130041)
I wonder what exposure is necessary to boost the immune system's handling of specific allergens. Are there immune-boosting workshops where children are exposed to allergens of all kinds (perhaps gradually increasing the exposure)? What is the economic impact of having a strong immune system vs weak immune system?
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Re:Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and N... by throwanem on Wednesday July 20, 2016 @12:34PM (#12130346)
> Are there immune-boosting workshops where children are exposed to allergens of all kinds (perhaps gradually increasing the exposure)?

Yes. They're called "the outside world", and hard as this is to believe, you can sometimes even find your child a spot in one free of charge!

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Re:Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and N... by dpflan on Wednesday July 20, 2016 @12:38PM (#12130383)
Heh, this is true, definitely the cheapest and probably the most fun for the children. But, what about a process that takes less time and can introduce allergens from around the world?
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Re:Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and N... by throwanem on Wednesday July 20, 2016 @10:03PM (#12134089)
Well, of course, may a merciful God forfend we allow children to waste time. Gotta make sure Junior's up to the admission process for a top-tier pre-K, after all.
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Re:Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and N... by a_c_s on Wednesday July 20, 2016 @01:00PM (#12130583)
This is a bit pedantic, but allergies are the result of an overactive immune system, not a weak one. The immune system is treating harmless particles (pollen, dander, etc.) as dangerous pathogens that need to be dealt with harshly (sneezing, runny noses, etc.)
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Re:Fewer Allergies: A Possible Upside of Thumb Sucking and N... by dpflan on Wednesday July 20, 2016 @02:12PM (#12131182)
As I am no expert but curious about exploring implications / applications, thanks for the clarity!
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