A filtering air purifier is only really likely to remove common allergens such as pollen or dust, but will still let through smaller particles or bacteria and virus'.

However, the amount of bacteria and virus' in your home is going to depend on the activities of your family and the general hygiene of them. e.g. do you live in a city or in the countryside? Are you a large family in a small house, or a small family in a large house? Do your kids come into contact with other kids frequently e.g. at school, and do they wash their hands before eating. Do you, as parents, mix with lots of different people, and in what type of society. Do any of you go swimming in public swimming baths? etc. etc.

There are so many factors that could account for the spread of illness, and many illnesses come from direct contact rather than airborne, unless you are in unventilated proximity to lots of different people frequently.

Not sure any 'technologies' could really help in that respect. Basic personal hygiene and good diet often work best.

Assuming your family interact outside the home, then this could well be where they might pick up viruses and germs.
Apart from boosting the immune system, I guess you all pay attention to touching toilet door handles and avoiding
crowded lifts etc..?

When you say sick, what sort of illnesses are you getting? What were you hoping the air purifier would do? And has it done it? I agree with Giles that a purifier won't remove viruses or bacteria.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic, i.e. kills bacteria and fungi. Garlic butter on toast?

Garlic is a natural antibiotic, i.e. kills bacteria and fungi. Garlic butter on toast?

Honey is also a great anti-bacterial! Do you know I am coming to suspect we can go too over board on the cleanliness route? When everywhere is sterile, kids don't get a chance to build up immunity. And re allergens there is now good scientific conventional evidence that exposing to peanuts at low doses actually reduces problems with allergy...

One can be too hygienic. Rather than concentrating on sterilization of your environment, try to boost your immune response.
Including turmeric, ginger, garlic, nettle tea, green tea, dandelion leaves/root, nuts, liquor ice root and green leafy veggies in some shape or form. Exercise, laughing, cuddles, fresh air, relaxation are some of the most immune boosting things one can do.
Co q 10, vit c supplements to boost body's fighting abilities
' Prana mudra' Is another immune and life-force enhancing thing one can do.
Trusting body to fight anything life throws at it, rather than living in an over protective mode can also flip the situation favorably

Honey is also a great anti-bacterial! Do you know I am coming to suspect we can go too over board on the cleanliness route? When everywhere is sterile, kids don't get a chance to build up immunity. And re allergens there is now good scientific conventional evidence that exposing to peanuts at low doses actually reduces problems with allergy...

Yes - manuka honey is the best one to get for its active anti bacterial property, e.g. one that has a high UMF factor.

Yes there is a school of thought that says we are going overboard with anti bacterial products. Overuse of antibiotics wipe out
good gut bacteria and their side effects have a lot to answer for.

Yes - manuka honey is the best one to get for its active anti bacterial property, e.g. one that has a high UMF factor.

Yes there is a school of thought that says we are going overboard with anti bacterial products. Overuse of antibiotics wipe out
good gut bacteria and their side effects have a lot to answer for.

In the 90's I was involved with a liver transplant unit and as a result I learned a lot about Hepatitis in its various forms. Hepatitis A is associated with poor sanitation. Paradoxically the incidences of serious hep A infections increased when sanitation was improved because people lost the immunity conferred by continual low level exposure. Children grow up in quite dirty homes without getting serious illnesses. So I would say its more than avoiding antibiotics (which by the way may be a key factor in the obesity epidemic) Its the whole idea that 'cleaner is better' The only people who need anti bacterial hand washes are surgeons and other people doing medical procedures with a high risk of infection. Soap and water is more than adequate for most purposes. Bacteria are not all universally harmful . And even the harmful ones can't do much damage if your immune system is in good working order.

I would say its more than avoiding antibiotics (which by the way may be a key factor in the obesity epidemic) Its the whole idea that 'cleaner is better' The only people who need anti bacterial hand washes are surgeons and other people doing medical procedures with a high risk of infection. Soap and water is more than adequate for most purposes. Bacteria are not all universally harmful . And even the harmful ones can't do much damage if your immune system is in good working order.

I wasn't suggesting the problem is only antibiotic related.

I would disagree though that only surgeons need antibacterial hand washes. Many people still wash their chickens before cooking them (even though there is no need to do this) and this is a common cause of spreading infection. Also, washing hands clean once the gardening is done, not sure soap alone would suffice in getting rid of bacteria and so on...many cases.

Stress is a common problem which directly impacts on our immune system so I doubt that we are a healthy nation overall.

Washing poultry is now deemed very unsafe, as it spreads infection very easily. However, the food you eat is likely to be a bigger influence than you think.