Preventing Allergy
Allergies of all sorts (asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergy) have increased dramatically over the past few decades, and we find ourselves in the middle of an “allergy epidemic.” A child without any family history of allergies is now at approximately 15% risk of developing an allergic condition within the first few years. If one parent has an allergic condition, the child is at 40-50% risk of allergies, and if both parents are allergic, this increases to 60-80%. Having a sibling with allergies also carries an increased risk of allergic conditions developing. There are many confusing messages on allergy prevention – the following are the ones with scientific backing that we currently recommend:
During Pregnancy
- Eat healthily; eating a wide variety of foods is beneficial.
- There is no need to cut out any food groups for the sake of allergy prevention- this will not reduce the risk of allergy in your child.
- Try to eat 2 or more portions of oily fish per week.
- Consider taking probiotics in the last trimester if your child is at risk of allergies (ie if there is a family history of allergy in parents or siblings). However, the best probiotic and dose are still not certain.
- Don’t smoke.
Feeding the newborn baby
- Breast milk is best and has allergy prevention properties- no formula milk is better than breast milk
- The breastfeeding mother does not have to avoid any particular foods from her diet except if the child is already showing signs of allergies (but please discuss with your healthcare provider first)
- Breastfeeding for the first 4-6 months has the most benefit
- Continuing to breastfeed whilst the first solids are introduced seems to have some benefit too
- Prolonged breast-feeding over 6 months has no further allergy prevention properties (but of course has other benefits)
- In high risk families, only if the mother is unable to breast feed exclusively during the first 4 months, consider using a “hypoallergenic” formula milk. Studies have shown some benefit in allergy prevention. Please discuss the choice of formula milk with your healthcare provider
- In high risk babies consider giving a daily probiotic and prebiotic for the first 3-4 months (no absolute proof of this yet- but looks promising)
- We do not yet have enough evidence for vitamin D and fish oils for allergy prevention
Solids Introduction
- Solids should be introduced when the child shows signs of readiness sometime between 4 and 6months of age.
- There is no evidence that delaying solids beyond 4-6 months of age prevents allergies: in fact, it may increase the risk
- Start with reasonably low allergenic foods such as apple, pear, carrot, butternut, sweet potato for the first few weeks.
- Thereafter you do not need to avoid any particular food group- even foods such as egg and nuts. There is no evidence that delaying their introduction reduces allergies. In fact, earlier introduction of peanut is probably BETTER for allergy prevention.
- HOWEVER, if the child is already showing signs of allergies or if there is a strong family history of food allergy, then the child should ideally be assessed by an allergist between 4-6 months of age to guide the introduction of “high allergy” foods.
Other Strategies
- There is no evidence that keeping your baby’s skin in good condition can help reduce eczema: this can be done by avoiding soap products and by applying daily emollients (a good bland moisturiser containing ingredients such as cetomacragol or emulsifying base.) We do not advise scented products or aqueous creams as they may contain products that are too
harsh for the sensitive skin.
A medical specialist with a special interest and skill in allergy might be able to help. See the list of health professionals with skills in allergy on the AFSA website.