#sciencetuesdays: Do You Know That Children Who Sucks Thumb and also Bite Nails have a positive side.

Children who suck their thumbs and bite their fingernails are less likely to suffer from allergies later in life, a study has found out That the habits, which babies develop in the womb, protect youngsters from allergens which include house dust mites, grass, mould and fur by exposing them to germs from an early age and altering their body’s immune functions.

According to the explanation, say the authors in the journal Pediatrics, is the hygiene hypothesis - exposure to some germs strengthens the body's immune system.
Thumb-sucking and nail-biting habit appeared to prevent some allergies among the 1,000 people in New Zealand assessed periodically between ages five and 32.
But also added that the habits had no bearing on either asthma or hay-fever risk.The researchers found 31 per cent of children were frequent thumb suckers or nail biters.
Among all children at 13 years old, 45% showed atopic sensitization, but among those with one oral habit, only 40% had allergies. Among those with both habits, only 31% had allergies. This trend was sustained into adulthood, and showed no difference depending on smoking in the household, ownership of cats or dogs; or exposure to house dust mites.