According to NCERT, more and more children in metro cities of India suffer from allergies and asthma due to sensitivity to the environment. What is the possible reason given for this?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The protected environment provided to them early in life
Allergy is the exaggerated response of the immune system to certain antigens in the environment. The book notes that more and more children in metro cities of India suffer from allergies and asthma. It links this to modern-day life style, which has lowered immunity and raised sensitivity to allergens, possibly because of the protected environment provided early in life.
Option (1) The protected environment provided to them early in life — Correct. A very protected early life is the reason the book suggests for the rise in allergies and asthma among children in metro cities.
Option (2) Greater exposure to dust mites and pollens early in life — Incorrect. Dust mites and pollens are common allergens, but the book does not blame greater exposure. It points to the opposite, a protected environment in early life.
Option (3) Deficiency of IgE type antibodies in their blood — Incorrect. The antibodies produced against allergens are of the IgE type. Allergy goes with an immune response that includes IgE, not with a deficiency of IgE.
Option (4) Failure of the body to differentiate between self and non-self cells — Incorrect. Failure to tell self from non-self cells leads to auto-immune disease, in which the body attacks its own cells. It is not the reason given for allergies.
NCERT Extract:
Allergies – “… Allergy is due to the release of chemicals like histamine and serotonin from the mast cells. For determining the cause of allergy, the patient is exposed to or injected with very small doses of possible allergens, and the reactions studied. The use of drugs like anti-histamine, adrenalin and steroids quickly reduce the symptoms of allergy. Somehow, modern-day life style has resulted in lowering of immunity and more sensitivity to allergens – more and more children in metro cities of India suffer from allergies and asthma due to sensitivity to the environment. This could be because of the protected environment provided early in life.”