Risk factors for food allergy.

Food allergy is a common problem that often affects young children. Numerous factors affect the development of food allergy both prenatally and postnatally. These factors are genetic and environmental. Although little can be done post-conception to alter a child's genetic risk for developing food allergy, early identification may permit alterations of the environment in which food allergy develops. Environmental factors operate both prenatally and postnatally. By understanding how these factors affect development of food allergy, it may be possible for parents to modulate the development of this difficult problem in their children.