Are allergies hereditary? Spoiler alert: yes. Plot twist: but it’s not that simple.

Allergies are the sixth most common chronic illness in the US, affecting over 50 million people. Though hay fever or peanuts may be the first thing that jumps to mind when you read allergy, the term allergy encompasses more than allergic rhinitis and food allergies, including other conditions such as eczema, asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, and anaphylaxis.

 

Like Father, Like Son?

Genetics is a funny thing, and a lot more complex than being born with blue eyes just because your parents had blue eyes.

When it comes to the inheritance patterns of allergy, it has been observed that children born to one parent with allergies have a 50% likelihood of also developing an allergic condition. If both parents are allergic, this risk of allergies increases to 75%. However, the coast is still not completely clear for kids where neither parent suffers from allergies – they still have a 20% risk of having some sort of allergic condition.

Interestingly, having allergies run in the family doesn’t always mean it manifests in the same way. You may be scratching and itching all over during hay fever season but your brother’s worst allergic nightmare is when you visit Aunt Jenny and her seven cats. Conversely, your sister has no problem with pollens or pet dander but eggs are her arch nemesis. And even more conversely, both your parents have allergies, you have allergies, your sister and one of your brothers have allergies, but your lucky youngest brother can frolic through the grass, pet all the cats, and scoff down all the eggs without batting an itchy eyelid.

All this indicates that the plot twist is indeed twisted. Inheriting the allergy gene is more about inheriting a susceptibility to allergy in general and less about specifically inheriting eczema triggered by stress.

 

Other Factors that Could Trigger Allergies

As evidenced by your grass-frolicking, cat-petting, egg-scoffing little brother, genes are not the whole story when it comes to the development of allergy. Allergic parents don’t mean their children will be allergic, just like non-allergic parents don’t mean their children won’t be allergic.

Research suggests that environmental and lifestyle factors can also contribute to causing allergies. In fact, there is likely some sort of interaction between an individual’s genetics and how their body responds to the environment they’re exposed to.

Environmental and lifestyle factors thought to contribute to allergic disease include:

  • Pollution
  • Changes in climate, including temperature and humidity
  • Exposure to antibiotics and certain types of chemical compounds during pregnancy and early stages of life
  • Smoke exposure
  • Attending daycare
  • Diet
  • Certain viral infections

 

Cue the Allergy Doctor

Fortunately, a whole specialized field of medicine exists to care for those afflicted by itching, watering, running, swelling, sneezing, coughing, congestion, and wheezing. An allergist is a medical doctor who has undergone further training in the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases.

Otolaryngologists (ear, nose, throat) specialists also often take a special interest in allergy, given that the ear, nose, and throat are commonly involved in these conditions. Though an otolaryngologist is not the same medical specialty as an allergist, they may choose to undertake advanced training to gain further knowledge and expertise in the management of allergic conditions, including:

  • Conducting allergy testing
  • Offering advice around lifestyle changes to manage allergies
  • Prescribing oral anti-allergy medications
  • Administering immunotherapy allergy shots

Depending on the nature and severity, allergies can have a significant impact on day-to-day functioning and quality of life. But thanks to allergy specialists, you don’t need to live with it if you don’t want to; there are many effective treatments available.