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Dr. Kim Mulvihill ReportingGerms are not always bad for you; some cutting edge research is finding some bugs may actually prevent disease.
Four-month old Jade Knoop has her mother's eyes, but her mom hopes Jade won't get her asthma.
Hennessey Knoop, Mother: "It can be quite frightening, how am I going to get this next breath in?"
Asthma runs in families; however, cases are dramatically increasing in the United States. No one knows why. Scientists wonder whether what's found in a capsule might prevent asthma, or allergies, or even other disease.
Inside the capsule are live microorganisms - germs and bacteria. You've probably heard of antibiotics, these are probiotics. It means "for life".
Michael Cabana, M.D., UCSF Children's Hospital: "We like to think of them as the good bacteria."
Dr. Michael Cabana heads up the asthma prevention trial at UCSF Children's Hospital. He wants to see whether a type of live bacteria, a probiotic called lactobacillus g-g, can stimulate a baby's immune system and prevent the onset of asthma.
David Jackson, M.D., Univ. of Utah Probiotics Expert: "It would be a great thing to be able to prevent this disease before it happens."
There are many types of good bacteria. They're sold as supplements and found in certain fermented foods, like yogurt. But the biggest source is inside the human body.
Dr. Jackson: "There are 500 species of bacteria that colonize us, that live inside us, mostly in the digestive tract."
Scientists believe good bacteria work with the body's immune system to keep toxic bacteria at bay.
Dr. Jackson: "We've found that we're susceptible to certain diseases."
However, probiotics may now be susceptible to the American belief that all germs are bad and germ killing products should be in every home. It could just be a child's early exposure to bacteria, such as playing in dirt or better yet, during vaginal birth, that has such a beneficial effect on a developing immune system.
Dr. Jackson: "That's one of the first gifts that their mothers give them."
Some believe you can replenish good bacteria by buying probiotics. However, buyer beware.
Dr. john Swarzberg: "Right now it's the wild west."
Dr. John Swartzberg of UC Berkeley says some studies have shown certain probiotics bought on the web or in health foods stores contain very little live bacteria, or none at all.
John Swartzberg, M.D., UCB Clinical Professor of Medicine: "There is no quality control, there is no standardization there is no proof of efficacy and there is no proof of safety."
Dr. Cabana hopes to provide proof they can stimulate the immune system, maybe even prevent asthma. Dr. Cabana: "We think that probiotics is a safe and effective way to do that."
Hennessey Knoop, Mother: "The idea of good germs, I think that's great. I think good germs need more press."
