Breast-feeding children for at least 4 months or more may help prevent atopic dermatitis cow milk allergy, and wheezing in early childhood.
However, changing a mother's diet during pregnancy or while breast-feeding does not seem to help prevent allergy-related conditions.
For most children, changing diet or special formulas does not seem to prevent these problems. If there is a family history of eczema and allergies in a parent, brother, or sister, discuss the infant feeding with your child's doctor. The timing of introduction of solid foods in general, as well as use of several specific foods, can help prevent some allergies.
There is also evidence that infants exposed to certain airborne allergens (such as dust mites and cat dander) may be less likely to develop related allergies. This is called the "hygiene hypothesis" and sprang from observations that infants on farms tend to have fewer allergies than those who grow up in environments that are more sterile.
Once allergies have developed, treating the allergies and carefully avoiding those things that cause reactions can prevent allergies in the future.
References
Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, et al. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Aug:122(2).
Kurowski K, Boxer RW. Food allergies: detection and management. American Family Physician. 2008 June:77(12).
Bielory L, Friedlaender MH. Allergic conjunctivitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2008 Feb;28(1):43-58, vi.
Sicherer S, Sampson HA. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2010 Feb 125 (2 suppl2) S116-25.
Images
Review Date: 06/29/2010
Reviewed By: Paula J. Busse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of
Clinical Immunology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
