Author Topic: Amish children have fewer allergies (Read 6129 times)

Telesphorus · « **on:** May 04, 2012, 08:11:31 PM »

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/amish-farm-kids-remarkably-immune-allergies-study-200835366.html

Quote

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Amish children raised on rural farms in northern Indiana suffer from asthma and allergies less often even than Swiss farm kids, a group known to be relatively free from allergies, according to a new study.

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Nadir · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2012, 10:18:33 PM »

That is probably because they have a low vaccination compliance. http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/autism-in-amish-children-1-in-10000/

Pepsuber · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2012, 02:57:49 PM »

Ah, the Amish vaccination/low autism rate myth. First of all, the Amish do vaccinate, and second of all, there are autistic children among the Amish -- it's just that the Amish are less eager to have their children labelled and treated differently from their other children. They are also more accepting of differences and handicaps in their children.

I would guess that a low incidence of allergies among the Amish is related to the food they eat, but many Amish eat the exact same stuff that others eat. They shop at Wal-Mart, etc. (for example, if you go to the Wal-Mart in Gap, PA, right on the border between Chester and Lancaster Counties, you will see the Amish buggies parked outside).

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2012, 08:03:13 AM »

Quote from: Nadir

That is probably because they have a low vaccination compliance. http://childhealthsafety.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/autism-in-amish-children-1-in-10000/

There was some actual real research done last year in Ohio, where the largest population of Amish currently live. Based on their own self-reporting, the Amish as a community do indeed vaccinate their children. However, they are very much like other traditional religious groups in that they are concerned of the health risks involved and don't follow current recommended schedules.

The results were reported in the Journal of Pediatrics last year.

The more likely case for less allergies among the Amish is this: they play in the dirt a lot and aren't obsessed with germicides.

I have known for a least a decade that people who have really, really clean houses are sicker than others. We only need to think how God made us to really understand this. Our bodies are AMAZING. We have bacteria in our bodes that help digest our food, keep our mouths clean, keep our skin clean, etc. But if a person is never exposed to the source where these bacteria are, then they never grow in our bodies where they actually work hard to protect us. It's common sense really.

Nadir · « **Reply #4 on:** May 15, 2012, 04:39:31 AM »

Quote from: Pepsuber

Quote
Ah, the Amish vaccination/low autism rate myth. First of all, the Amish do vaccinate, and second of all, there are autistic children among the Amish.

Pepsuber, what I said was "the Amish have a low vaccination compliance."
This is not a myth but misinformation to confuse the general public about vaccination/autism and other resultant disfunctions.

CathMomof7, when I said "the Amish have a low vaccination compliance."
I was not saying they don't vaccinate their children, but that they don't vaccinate at the rate of the general public, and this is a problem for the people at the Journal of Pediatrics to which you referred. As you say yourself they "don't follow current recommended schedules". Which is what I am saying!

You don't seem to have grasped the implications of the article.
Of 1000 Amish parents in Holmes County questioned, 37% responded, of whom 68% stated that all of their children had received at least 1 immunization, and 17% that some of their children had received at least 1 immunization. 14% of the parents reported that none of their children had received immunizations. 86% of the parents who completely exempted their children from vaccines (i.e. the aforementioned 14%) stated that the main reason they do not vaccinate their children is concern over adverse effects. Many parents indicated that they allow their children to receive only some vaccines because of concern about the way certain vaccines are produced.

The report finishes with the conclusion that "Underimmunization in the Amish population must be approached with emphasis on changing parental perceptions of vaccines in addition to ensuring access to vaccines.

This hardly gives the impression that the Amish are compliant vaccinators.

Pepsuber · « **Reply #5 on:** May 15, 2012, 06:37:31 AM »

Quote from: Nadir

Pepsuber, what I said was "the Amish have a low vaccination compliance."

The thing is, they actually don't. At least, generalizations cannot be made across all Amish/strict Mennonite (who actually live much like the Amish) communities. The Amish lifestyle does not include a rejection of modern medicine.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 15, 2012, 09:08:06 AM »

Quote from: Nadir

Quote from: Pepsuber
Quote
Ah, the Amish vaccination/low autism rate myth. First of all, the Amish do vaccinate, and second of all, there are autistic children among the Amish.

Pepsuber, what I said was "the Amish have a low vaccination compliance."
This is not a myth but misinformation to confuse the general public about vaccination/autism and other resultant disfunctions.

CathMomof7, when I said "the Amish have a low vaccination compliance."
I was not saying they don't vaccinate their children, but that they don't vaccinate at the rate of the general public, and this is a problem for the people at the Journal of Pediatrics to which you referred. As you say yourself they "don't follow current recommended schedules". Which is what I am saying!

You don't seem to have grasped the implications of the article.
Of 1000 Amish parents in Holmes County questioned, 37% responded, of whom 68% stated that all of their children had received at least 1 immunization, and 17% that some of their children had received at least 1 immunization. 14% of the parents reported that none of their children had received immunizations. 86% of the parents who completely exempted their children from vaccines (i.e. the aforementioned 14%) stated that the main reason they do not vaccinate their children is concern over adverse effects. Many parents indicated that they allow their children to receive only some vaccines because of concern about the way certain vaccines are produced.

The report finishes with the conclusion that "Underimmunization in the Amish population must be approached with emphasis on changing parental perceptions of vaccines in addition to ensuring access to vaccines.

This hardly gives the impression that the Amish are compliant vaccinators.

I understood completely the context of the article. I used it to clarify that the Amish do indeed vaccinate their children, much like the general population. Vaccine compliance is a huge concern with the federal government, so they are always doing "studies." I will look for it, but I think about 55% of parents only get certain vaccines, about 60% don't follow the schedule which actually means that they don't get those vaccines at all.

In other words, a majority of parents in the general population are non-compliant. Amish people aren't that much different. That was the point.

Therefore, not getting vaccines is not the cause for fewer allergies. It is more likely that the Amish aren't as obsessed with germs.

I think many of these "reports" are attempts to sensationalize ideas. In other words---"No vaccines, No allergies!" But this is unfair "advertising."

A better headline would be "Amish lifestyle has fewer health risks." Or "Hyper-Hygienic American lifestyle leads to increase in allergies." These statements would be accurate without being misleading.

Sorry to have come across differently.

Nadir · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2012, 05:34:30 PM »

Dear CathMomof7,

Actually we are talking from two different perspectives; you from the U.S., I from the Australian one.

In Australia, the percentage of children 12-<15 months of age assessed as fully immunised, as at 31 March 2012, is in the low 90's for all states., the highest being in the Capital Territory (ACT) and the lowest being in Western Australia.
These are government statistics. http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/patients/acir/statistics.jsp

shin · « **Reply #8 on:** May 16, 2012, 12:03:23 AM »

Hmm. I'd like to learn more about the possible raw milk connection.

But in any case, it simply makes sense, not only the farm life, but away from the higher technological side.

Hmm. Do Amish use pesticides?

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2012, 08:55:13 AM »

Quote from: Nadir

Dear CathMomof7,

Actually we are talking from two different perspectives; you from the U.S., I from the Australian one.

In Australia, the percentage of children 12-<15 months of age assessed as fully immunised, as at 31 March 2012, is in the low 90's for all states., the highest being in the Capital Territory (ACT) and the lowest being in Western Australia.
These are government statistics. http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/patients/acir/statistics.jsp

Ah, Thank you Nadir.

I am truly a silly American. I often think that everyone is American and that whatever applies in America must apply every where else.

Apologies.

I made assumptions, since we were speaking of the Amish, that we were talking in American generalities.

Our vaccine schedule seems to be very similar.

I found one report that says 72% of children have their recommended vaccines by school age. Some others say that actually only about 36% of children are completely compliant in receiving all the vaccines at the appropriate time.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2012, 09:31:32 AM »

Quote from: shin

Hmm. I'd like to learn more about the possible raw milk connection.

But in any case, it simply makes sense, not only the farm life, but away from the higher technological side.

Hmm. Do Amish use pesticides?

Yes, the raw milk connection is an interesting one and I have thought of checking into it. We used to have several Amish dairies near us, but they have mostly sold their farms and moved to Ohio. I know one family who used to purchase raw milk from there.

As for the pesticides, I believe our farmers here had organic farms because their is a fairly nice demand for organics in my community. But generally, I think many of them do use pesticides.

We had one dairy that also had a cheese factory, but they sold out and moved to Ohio once the gas drillers came in to tear up their properties and poison their wells. We still have a few left, but their presence is dwindling.

The cheese family had a little grocery where we would shop sometimes. Absolutely the best cheese around and the breads were amazing.

Pepsuber · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2012, 02:33:48 PM »

shin, yes, many if not most Amish do use pesticides. The reality vs. the image in popular culture. Many Amish also work outside the home!

shin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2012, 07:59:46 PM »

Ah, well, image vs. reality yes.

I've read that organic farming if you're going to sell it with that label is highly regulated and inspected -- there's the price boost, but there's that too.

I heard once a woman saying that raw milk had been quite good for her dental health, be interesting to see research done in that area in the future.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2012, 09:43:06 AM »

I think there might be some truth to raw milk and dental health.

I know from my own research and from a recent discussion with our dentist that breast milk will NOT cause tooth decay in babies, even if they nurse while sleeping. It is impossible, because the bacteria that cause tooth decay are not present in a mother's milk.

This might be true with raw cow's milk. It's worth checking out.