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  HelloLife Guest Topic Started June 09 2011 at 12:47 pm Favorite 0

  I have a peanut allergy, and am now pregnant with my first child. I was wondering if this means my child will also be allergic to peanuts? Is this a genetic trait?

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  Dr. Jeff Chamberlain, MD Answered by Health Coach Dr. Jeff Chamberlain, MD
  June 09 2011 at 12:49 pm

  Congratulations on your pregnancy! The answer to your question is not a straightforward “yes” or “no”.

  As you may have observed, parents with allergies are much more likely to have kids with allergies. Twins have a 70% chance of having similar allergies. However, it appears that what is actually genetically handed down is the tendency to develop allergies and the severity of allergies - not necessarily the specific allergy. For example, a parent who is allergic to peanuts, might have a child who is allergic to pollen.

  In your case, your child is more likely to develop allergies than the child of a parent without allergies, but we do not know for sure if they will have allergies or not, and if they do develop allergies, we do not know if they will be allergic to peanuts or if it will be something else they are allergic to.

  Stay healthy, Dr. Jeff M.D.

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