> [!abstract] > In medicine, the hygiene hypothesis states that early childhood exposure to particular microorganisms (such as the gut flora and helminth parasites [parasitic worms]) protects against allergies by properly tuning the immune system. In particular, a lack of such exposure is thought to lead to poor immune tolerance. The time period for exposure begins before birth and ends at school age (Wikipedia, 2024). I find this idea to relate to [[Antifragility|antifragility]] in the sense that exposure to those potential threats increases the child's ability to thrive. >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): — >- **West** (similar): [[Antifragility]] >- **East** (different): — >- **South** (downstream): —