Question

What are hypotheses suggesting why urban children have more food allergies than children from rural areas?

Answer 1

Answer: Rural children are in contact with many allergens that train their immune systems.  While Urban children are exposed to chemical pollutants that sensitize their immune systems and make them more prone to allergies.

Explanation:

An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that doesn't bother most other people. Allergy sufferers are often sensitive to more than one thing. For example, pollen, bee venom, pet dander or a food that does not cause a reaction in most people.

The purpose of the immune system is to defend the body against harmful microorganisms such bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The immune system produces substances known as antibodies, and in this type of reaction the antibody that is produced is called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When you have allergies, your immune system produces antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even if it is not. When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system's reaction can cause the skin, sinuses, airways, or digestive system to become inflamed.

There are now many studies showing that contact with the rural area in the first years of life reduced the risk of developing allergies in the population. This is because children are in contact with allergens. Urban children are exposed to chemical pollutants that sensitize their immune systems and make them more prone to allergies. As it was said, when a susceptible person is exposed to an allergen, the body produces IgE. The next exposure may result in an allergic reaction which produces even more amounts of IgE. But this happens when there is an exaggerated and unnecessary reaction on the part of the immune system, because the person is also in contact with toxic and chemicals that affect the immune system, and make it not work properly.