The most common allergies in infants from 0 to 1 year of age are food allergies. This is due to the fact that the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier is immature during the first months and can be attacked by foods with high protein content. Secondly, it must be taken into account that the hygienic conditions of the habitats and the prophylaxis with the administration of infantile vaccines reduce infectious pathologies in children. It is also advisable to prolong exclusive breast feeding and to delay the introduction of the most allergenic foods.
Even so, the incidence of food allergy has been increasing in recent years and is currently considered to be between 5-10% of the population. Eggs, milk and fish are among the foods that produce the most allergies and it has been demonstrated that intrauterine sensitization to foods can occur during gestation. In breastfeeding, the direct relationship of the foods consumed by the mother with the allergies that may occur is a controversial issue. On a theoretical level, excessive consumption of milk proteins during lactation could be an additional factor to increase sensitization in the infant and it would be justified to avoid dairy consumption in mothers of children with hypersensitivity to cow’s milk proteins.
Subsequent allergies
Regarding later allergies such as pollen, mites or latex, and the link of the appearance of these allergies due to early exposure of children to these allergens, it should be noted that every day we know better the common allergens (those that are capable of arousing an allergic reaction) between foods such as fruit-latex syndrome and between foods and inhalants such as shellfish and house dust mites, vegetables, pollens, etc… In any case, in children with a family history of allergy, exclusive breast feeding and delayed initiation of hypoallergenic foods is recommended.