by Allergy Partners
December 9, 2024
Are Allergies Genetic? Exploring Allergies During Pregnancy, Childhood, and Adulthood
Many new parents are concerned about their child’s risk of developing allergies and asthma. If you struggle with allergies, there is a strong likelihood your children will experience allergic responses, too.
When parents welcome a new child into the world, they often find themselves worrying about their child’s health and well-being. One of the most prevalent concerns that many new parents have is their child’s risk of developing allergies.
Allergies can be a debilitating condition, causing a wide range of symptoms such as sneezing, itching, skin inflammation and infection, wheezing, watery eyes, and a host of other symptoms.
While environmental and behavioral factors can make us more vulnerable to the onset of allergies, heredity plays a significant role in the development of allergic disease.
Allergies During Pregnancy
It is estimated that approximately 20% of pregnant women in the United States experience allergies, most commonly allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Pregnancy can affect hormonal balance, which can influence the immune response to allergens. Some women experience worsening allergy symptoms, though others might notice a decline in allergies.
Experiencing allergy symptoms while pregnant does not affect whether the child will develop allergies.
Will my child inherit my allergies?
Not necessarily, but if both you and your partner experience allergies, there is a significant – some studies point to a 95% heritability estimate – risk that your child will develop an allergic disease. These conditions include hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and other environmental allergies, atopic dermatitis (eczema), food allergies, and allergic asthma.
Will my diet cause allergies in my child?
Diet may play a small role in the development of allergic disease in offspring during pregnancy.
A diet rich in certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, has been found to reduce the risk of developing allergic disease, while some studies found that intake of folic acid supplements during pregnancy was found to correspond with an elevated risk of childhood asthma.
However, consuming nuts, gluten, milk, or any other foods that may trigger allergic responses during pregnancy does not put a child at risk of developing allergies. These substances are commonly found in our diet and are generally safe for consumption during pregnancy.
Should I be screened for allergies during pregnancy?
If you are experiencing symptoms of allergic disease during your pregnancy, you should undergo a screening by a qualified allergist.
The diagnosis of allergy in pregnant women requires a comprehensive medical history and symptom analysis. It is essential to gather information about your personal and family medical history, as well as any previous allergic reactions.
Additionally, your doctor should assess the presence of symptoms that may indicate an allergy, such as sneezing, itching, hives, or gastrointestinal disturbances.
It is important to emphasize that a rigid elimination diet should be avoided for the diagnosis of food allergy in pregnant women. While an elimination diet can be helpful in confirming a suspected allergy, it carries the risk of compromising the nutritional status of both the mother and the growing infant.
Should I get allergy shots while pregnant?
Patients undergoing immunotherapy (allergy shots) before pregnancy may continue maintenance treatment safely during pregnancy. However, the risk of systemic reactions might outweigh the benefits of starting allergen immunotherapy after pregnancy.
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) involves receiving injections of tiny quantities of an allergen. This treatment is administered either subcutaneously (SCIT) or sublingually (SLIT).
However, the situation becomes more complex when immunotherapy is begun during pregnancy. The immune system undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, which may affect how the body responds to immunotherapy.
Overall, initiating immunotherapy during pregnancy should be individualized and carefully considered. For those considering starting immunotherapy during pregnancy, the risks might outweigh the benefits, and alternative treatment options should be explored with a qualified immunologist.
Allergies During Childhood
For children with allergies, symptom management is an essential part of assuring optimal development. Unaddressed childhood allergies can impede school performance and hinder academic achievement.
While more than one-quarter of children in the United States have some form of allergic disease, certain types of allergies can be outgrown, sometimes well before adolescence.
Can food allergies be outgrown?
An estimated 80% of people who experienced milk, egg, soy, sesame, and wheat allergies in infancy outgrow them by their mid-to-late teens. Allergies to shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, and fish tend to be lifelong in approximately 90% of instances.
However, whether or not a food allergy will be outgrown cannot be definitively determined. The best way to manage any type of food allergy is to develop a personalized strategy in consultation with an allergist.
Should my children be tested for allergies even though they show no symptoms?
If you have a family history of allergies, it’s a good idea to have your child tested by an allergist. Although allergy testing can be performed at any age, skin tests aren’t recommended for children under six months.
Allergies in Adulthood
Adult-onset allergies can develop at any time; it’s not uncommon to experience seasonal hay fever in adulthood and middle age, even if you’ve never had symptoms in your youth. An estimated 5% of people in the United States with a diagnosed food allergy were first diagnosed as adults.
What causes allergies to develop in adulthood?
Genetics are thought to play a role in whether allergies develop in adulthood, though identifying the reason behind a sudden onset of allergies can be challenging.
While there may be medical explanations at play, the specific reasons can vary from person to person. In some cases, allergies can develop without any known cause. In other cases, there may be underlying medical conditions or environmental factors that contribute to the development of an allergy.
Which allergies develop in adulthood?
A common type of adult-onset allergy is oral allergy syndrome.
Oral allergy syndrome is a condition where the body develops an allergic response to proteins in fruits and vegetables that resemble certain pollen proteins. So, if a person has a lifelong allergy to grass pollen, that person might develop an allergic response to a fruit or vegetable with a similar protein.
Food allergies can also develop in adults. The most common include the following:
- Shellfish
- Fish
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
While childhood allergies can disappear, adult-onset allergies generally persist throughout the person’s lifetime.
While allergies cannot be cured, they can be managed effectively. If you are struggling with allergy symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek diagnosis and treatment from a board-certified allergist.
