Every week Dr Ron Cutler, Deputy Director of Biomedical Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London, will expertly and ardently answer your hygiene-related questions.

This week’s question is: I have been told that it’s good for kids to get dirty to build up their immune system. Is there any truth in this?

Dr Ron: “Yes, to an extent. It is good for children to build up their immune system and by them being exposed to dirt and bacteria they will do this, but this will happen in everyday life anyway so excess dirt is not necessary.

Image by www.thekidswindow.co.uk

When I think about the children in India who live on the streets and have no chance of experiencing the level of hygiene we do, they often have stronger immune systems, but the down side is a high infant mortality rate.”

Although it’s difficult to keep an eye on your little ones 24 hours a day, particularly during school time, Albany Healthy Schools continues to raise hygiene awareness and school cleaning standards across the UK.