Factors Before Birth Can Determine Child's Risk of Allergies, Henry Ford Hospital Study

Key factors that affect a child's risk of developing allergies by age 2 include race, a mother's exposure to pets during pregnancy and the method of delivery, a new study suggests. Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit followed 1,187 newborns and measured levels of the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) in blood samples collected from the babies at birth, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. IgE is associated with the development of allergies and asthma; higher levels indicate increased risk.