Newborns: this is how you can effectively prevent allergies

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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The likelihood of allergies depends heavily on genetic factors. Babies with a family history of allergies are at a correspondingly higher risk. But that can be significantly reduced with preventive measures in the first months of life. It is therefore important that parents know whether their child is more at risk of allergies than others.

In fact, however, two out of three affected families are not adequately informed about the topic, warns the German Skin and Allergy Aid e.V. in a press release.

Allergies often run in the family

There is an increased risk of allergies in the child if the mother, father or sibling already suffer from an allergy such as hay fever or a food allergy. Atopic dermatitis and asthma in the family are also considered risk factors because they also belong to the allergic group.

If both parents are allergic, the probability is 40 to 60 percent that the child will also develop an allergy. If both parents suffer from the same allergic disease, the probability increases to 60 to 80 percent. With an allergic sibling, the risk is 25 to 35 percent. For comparison: Those who come from an allergy-free family have an allergy risk of 5 to 15 percent.

Breastfeeding for four months

The most effective measure to prevent allergies in children is to fully breastfeed a child - until they are five months old. If this is not possible or desired, newborns with an increased risk of allergies should only receive clinically tested hypoallergenic (HA) baby food for the same period of time.

No cow's milk in the first few months

Conventional milk food, on the other hand, is unfavorable for babies with an increased risk of allergies, since cow's milk protein can provoke allergies. "Just one bottle could destroy all subsequent efforts to achieve a low-allergen diet," warns Erhard Hackler, director of the German Skin and Allergy Aid Association.

Smoking triggers allergies

It is also important that the mother does not smoke and is not exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy. The same then applies to the child himself as soon as he is born. The mother's partner should then also refrain from smoking. Even if you smoke in front of the door, nicotine and other pollutants stick to clothing and skin so that a child can come into contact with them.

Tags:  drugs palliative medicine skin care