3 ms·

One of the known things is that babies who get seriously sick somewhere in their first year have a better immune system for life. So yes, failing to be exposed

by btilly 6y ago

One of the known things is that babies who get seriously sick somewhere in their first year have a better immune system for life. So yes, failing to be exposed to viral diseases can be bad for you.

giantg2 6y ago
It's really a balance though. Some of those viral diseases could have permanent consequences that outweigh the benefit of a stronger immune system. For example, Polio could leave you crippled, or Mumps could leave a boy with sterility. Do you have a link to the data for the claim about it being a serious illness that causes a better immune system? My understanding has been that exposure to a variety of pathogens and minor illnesses would be sufficient.
croes 6y ago
Are you sure you aren't falling for survivor bias?
- btilly 6y ago
  Very sure. The fatality rate is negligible and the boost is significant. See https://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/06/daycare.kids/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/06/daycare.kids/index.htm... for a random news article reporting on a similar result only with kids getting sick in daycare. Being exposed to diseases early builds immunity later.
AbrahamParangi 6y ago
Morbid but this sounds like burn-in (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn-in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn-in) All complex systems, us included, have bathtub curves (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathtub_curve https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathtub_curve)
- postalrat 6y ago
  The simplest answer isn't always the correct one. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/384057 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/...
notabee 6y ago
That's not universally true. The immune system is far more complex than that. Two examples: 1. 28 year olds, who were exposed to a prior influenza pandemic during an early age window, disproportionately died during the 1918 pandemic. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-actuarial-journal/article/agedependence-of-the-1918-pandemic/3BCBF4BDFBD8C5F0F4FBFDF34DF42209 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-actuarial-jo... 2. Measles destroys prior immune memory. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03324-7 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03324-7

by btilly 6y ago

One of the known things is that babies who get seriously sick somewhere in their first year have a better immune system for life. So yes, failing to be exposed to viral diseases can be bad for you.

giantg2 6y ago

It's really a balance though. Some of those viral diseases could have permanent consequences that outweigh the benefit of a stronger immune system. For example, Polio could leave you crippled, or Mumps could leave a boy with sterility. Do you have a link to the data for the claim about it being a serious illness that causes a better immune system? My understanding has been that exposure to a variety of pathogens and minor illnesses would be sufficient.

croes 6y ago

Are you sure you aren't falling for survivor bias?

btilly 6y ago
Very sure. The fatality rate is negligible and the boost is significant. See https://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/06/daycare.kids/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/06/daycare.kids/index.htm... for a random news article reporting on a similar result only with kids getting sick in daycare. Being exposed to diseases early builds immunity later.

AbrahamParangi 6y ago

Morbid but this sounds like burn-in (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn-in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burn-in) All complex systems, us included, have bathtub curves (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathtub_curve https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathtub_curve)

postalrat 6y ago
The simplest answer isn't always the correct one. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/384057 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/...

notabee 6y ago

That's not universally true. The immune system is far more complex than that. Two examples: 1. 28 year olds, who were exposed to a prior influenza pandemic during an early age window, disproportionately died during the 1918 pandemic. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-actuarial-journal/article/agedependence-of-the-1918-pandemic/3BCBF4BDFBD8C5F0F4FBFDF34DF42209 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-actuarial-jo... 2. Measles destroys prior immune memory. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03324-7 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03324-7