Well now we may know why. I received this today.

Subject: Kids on farms

EXPOSURE TO FARMING IN EARLY LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASTHMA AND ALLERGY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY October 7, 2001 Summary Background: A farming environment protects against development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic sensitization in children. We aimed to establish whether increased exposure to microbial compounds has to occur early in life to affect maturation of the immune system and thereby reduces risk for development of allergic diseases. Methods: We did a cross-sectional survey in rural areas of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. 2618 (75%) of 3504 parents of 6-13-year-old children completed a standardized questionnaire on asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema. Children from farming families, and a random sample of non-farmers' children, who gave consent for blood samples to be obtained for measurements of specific serum IgE antibodies to common allergens were invited to participate (n=901). Findings: Exposure of children younger than 1 year, compared with those aged 1-5 years, to stables and consumption of farm milk was associated with lower frequencies of asthma (1% [3/218] vs 11% [15/138]), hay fever (3% [7] vs 13% [18]), and atopic sensitization (12% [27] vs 29% [40]). Protection against development of asthma was independent from effect on atopic sensitization. Continual long-term exposure to stables until age 5 years was associated with the lowest frequencies of asthma (0·8% [1/122]), hay fever (0·8% [1]), and atopic sensitization (8·2% [10]). Interpretation Long-term and early-life exposure to stables and farm milk induces a strong protective effect against development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic sensitization.

Josef Riedler, Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer, Waltraud Eder, Mynda Schreuer, Marco Waser, Soyoun Maisch, David Carr, Rudi Schierl, Dennis Nowak, Erika von Mutius, and the ALEX Study Team* *Members listed at end of paper Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergology, Children's Hospital, Salzburg, Austria (Josef Riedler MD, Waltraud Eder MD); Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland (Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer PhD, Marco Waser MSc); Department of Sociology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg (Mynda Schreuer PhD); Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Soyoun Maisch MD, David Carr PhD, Erika von Mutius MD); and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Munich, Munich (Rudi Schierl MD, Dennis Nowak MD) Correspondence to: Dr Josef Riedler, Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergology, Children's Hospital, Muellner Hauptstrasse 48, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria (e-mail:J.Riedler@Lks.at)

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), October 19, 2001

Answers

I know when we moved to the farm and away from the pollution my childrens asthma and allergies got alot better .They barley use there meds now.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), October 19, 2001.

Hello LBF, My oldest daughter (14) spent this past summer with me here in the Ozarks. She has asthma and allergies and requires two types of medicines and an inhaler. She lives in Orlando Fla with her mother of which sent all the medicines with her to control the expected allergies that trigger her asthma. My daughter spent seven weeks here and only had to take her medications once the entire time she visited. I attributed her not needing her medications here to the low stress and freer lifestyle that she was not accustomed to in the city and to the fact that I do not avocate allapathic healing. Now, after reading your article, I am beginning to see that there was more to it than just that. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), October 21, 2001.

My number three son suffered terribly from asthma in Central Texas, despite our homeschooling/homesteading type lifestyle. But allergens are notoriously abundant there. He has been off his meds since the move to Colorado. Number two, son, however, has had asthma since moving here(only one episode). So something we have here and didn't have there evidently triggered it. He's the boy who helps me the most with goat/barn chores.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), October 22, 2001.

I live in rural Nova Scotia and there are heaps of asthma and allergy cases here in the sticks..maybe not so many as the city but still plenty.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), November 07, 2001.