People at risk of food allergies

• Children who suffer from eczema, asthma, hives or hay fever.
• Those of which one of parents or both parents also suffer from one of these forms of allergy. Only 2% to 5% of people who suffer from a food allergy have no family predisposition.
• Obese children, possibly. According to an American study in which 4 children participated, obese children are more at risk of allergy to milk⁸. The causal link between obesity and food allergies has not been demonstrated. The condition of chronic inflammation in obese people may contribute to the development of allergies.¹². There could also be a link between asthma and being overweight¹⁶.

People at risk of an anaphylactic reaction

• People who have had an anaphylactic reaction in the past.
• People who, in addition to having one or more food allergies, also have asthma, especially if the disease is poorly controlled.
• Adolescents are considered to be at higher risk. They tend not to inform those around them about their food allergies and not to have their adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injector with them at all times.

Remark. Unusual case shows that food allergy can be transmitted through organ transplants¹⁹. A 42-year-old woman developed a peanut allergy (with an anaphylactic reaction) after a graft of liver. The organ donor was allergic to this food.

Risk factors

It is difficult to know why a food allergy appears. A few risk factors are currently under study.

Consult our Allergy sheet to learn more about the factors that could explain the increase in the number of people allergic to food or other types of allergens (pollen, latex, etc.)