ABSTRACT There are many misconceptions about the immune system in children, its impact on infectious disease susceptibility and its role in the rapidly increasing rates of immune mediated diseases in industrialized societies. In this mini review, I will discuss common believes and the data supporting or countering such believes, with a focus on clinically relevant topics of relevance to trainees and practicing paediatricians. I will emphasize data from studies performed in humans rather than reductionist mouse models. I discuss open questions requiring further investigation and end with a discussion on clinical observations of particular concern which paediatricians should consider when caring for children in their practices. Immune development is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of health, not just early in life, but also long term and all of us caring for children should know more about it.
Petter Brodin (Thu,) studied this question.