Digestive problems rife in Singapore

Digestive problems rife in Singapore

SINGAPORE (DPA): Youngsters born in the sterile hospitals of Singapore are falling ill with digestive problems associated with the developed world, it was reported on Monday.

The trend may be caused by the sterile conditions in which babies are born in the city-state, said Professor John Walker- Smith, a British-based pediatric gastroenterologist.

On the final day of a four-day gathering of Asian specialists, the physician told them that babies in developing countries are born in a home environment and are exposed to the bacteria that their mothers harbor.

In remarks reported in The Straits Times, he said this builds up the babies' auto-immune system and protects them from allergic reactions.

Referring to babies born in sterile hospital surroundings, Walker-Smith said their immune systems "are not being stimulated by their mothers' bacteria, and this may be why they are less immune to allergies".

He noted more babies were developing allergies to cow's milk and soy milk, resulting in vomiting, growth failure, irritability and loss of appetite.