Children, Dogs, Immune Systems, OH MY!

In a recent Medpage Today article, it was noted that for all the parents with newborns and toddlers, having Fido by their side could help ward off childhood infections!  Dog lovers' rejoice!  From the article, "during the first year of life, children living with dogs were generally healthier and were less likely to have frequent ear infections, according to Eija Bergroth, MD, of Kuopio University Hospital in Kuopio, Finland, and colleagues.  In addition, they typically were treated with fewer courses of antibiotics for otitis compared with children without contact, the researchers reported in the August Pediatrics online."  It is postulated that having a more diverse bacterial environment could lead to a quicker immune system maturation, leading to less infectious states for the children.  So, go adopt!