Lifestyle Too Clean Can Harm Children, Here Are The Facts

Illustration of a clean lifestyle. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - Maintaining a clean lifestyle is an important step in forming a healthy generation. Children need to be accustomed from an early age to understanding cleanliness is not just a routine, but a way to protect themselves from various risk of disease.

However, in practice, there is an assumption that being too clean can actually make children more vulnerable to illness. This view is then explained by experts so as not to be misinterpreted.

Pediatrician Ria Yoanita gave an explanation of the limits in educating children to adopt a clean and healthy lifestyle.

Even though there is a truth, the member of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association said that the assumption that children should not be clean should not continue so that they do not get sick easily needs to be understood in the context and limits.

"There is some truth in this assumption, but it needs to be understood the context and limits," said the graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained the hygiene hypothesis that states natural exposure to microorganisms in the environment, such as from soil and animals, can strengthen children's immune system and reduce the risk of allergies, asthma, and autoimmune disease.

However, this does not mean that children can be left dirty until they are at risk of infection due to dangerous microorganisms.

Doctor Ria emphasized the importance of teaching children to maintain personal hygiene through simple habits, such as washing hands before eating and after going to the bathroom, to avoid health problems.

In addition, parents are also expected to instill the habit of maintaining environmental hygiene around children.

He also reminded parents not to overuse disinfectants or antiseptics at home, but simply focus on functional hygiene, not excessive sterile.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that the food and drinks given to children are always in a safe condition for consumption.

Head of the Directorate of Health Promotion and Community Empowerment of the Ministry of Health, Dina Agoes Soelistijani, added the need for cooperation from various parties in shaping the habit of a clean and healthy lifestyle in children.

"We really have to collaborate together on how we can create a conducive environmental condition for behavior change," he said.