Some Childhood Illnesses May Offer Long-Term Benefits

Research links some early childhood infections to lower cancer and heart disease risk, but experts say context matters.
Some Childhood Illnesses May Offer Long-Term Benefits
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It’s conditioned parental behavior: Your toddler spikes a 102-degree fever, and you reach for fever-reducing medication or find other ways to eliminate discomfort.

Those common fevers, however, and the stream of colds, flus, and childhood bugs that come with them are actually building a fortress of immunity that could protect against serious diseases decades later.

Amy Denney
Amy Denney
Author
Amy Denney is a health reporter for The Epoch Times. Amy has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield and has won several awards for investigative and health reporting. She covers the microbiome, new treatments, and integrative wellness.