According to a study published in journal Thorax, high levels of antibodies to allergens in baby’s umbilical cord blood is more important in the development of childhood allergies and asthma than exposure to allergens.

The findings are based on a sample size of 1300 children born between 1989 and 1990.

The researchers concluded that children who had high umbilical cord blood levels of IgE at birth were around twice as likely to have become sensitised.

High IgE cord blood levels were not associated with the development of asthma up to the age of 4, but children with high IgE levels in their umbilical cord blood were around 66 per cent more likely to have a diagnosis of asthma by the age of 10.

via Hindustan Times