Introduction

The Allergy Boom and the Hygiene Hypothesis

Not everyone is programmed to develop allergies. You have to inherit the tendency. If you have close family with a history of hay fever, asthma, hives, eczema, or specific food or drug allergies, there is a chance you will develop allergy symptoms.

When I was twelve, I baby-sat at a home where there was a cat. Until that time I had very limited exposure to cats, so I happily played with it. After a short time my eyes started to itch, so I rubbed them. Before I knew it, both my eyes were swollen and I could barely see. This was my introduction...