Children who play outside linked to strong immunity, according to UCT study

A study by the University of Cape Town (UCT) has revealed time spent outdoors, animal exposure, and rural or traditional farm lifestyles can help children's immune development and protect them against some skin allergies.

The clinical study by researchers from the UCT's Division of Paediatric Dermatology and Paediatric Allergy titled "Rural and Urban Exposures Shape Early Life Immune Development in South African Children with Atopic Dermatitis and Nonallergic Children" found that a rural childhood positively impacted immune development.

According to lead author Dr Nonhlanhla Lunjani, the clinical study was designed to evaluate the difference in children with or without atopic dermatitis (AD) in rural and urban settings.