–to: Gale EAM (2002) A missing link in the hygiene hypothesis? Diabetologia 45:588–592

Excerpt

To the Editor: The Hygiene hypothesis put forward to explain the increased incidence of autoimmune diseases over the past 50 years, including Type 1 diabetes, claims that the rising incidence could be due to reduced antigen stimulation or infection during infancy which could interfere with the development of the immune system [1]. In his For Debate article Dr. Gale [2] suggested that the missing link in the hygiene hypothesis could be related to Pinworm infections. In the 20^th century 50% of European children were infested with Entrobius, but such an infestation nowadays has subsided dramatically, and infestation is now less frequent and intense than before [3]. In support of the Entrobius hypothesis, diseases such as Asthma and Type 1 diabetes have risen in Europe, possibly due to the loss of a protective influence of infestation. …