Different allergens are more prevalent in different parts of the country or the world. For example, peanut allergy is unknown in Scandinavia, where they do not eat peanuts, but common in the U.S., where the per capita consumption of peanuts is about eight pounds a year. Children inherit allergic tendencies from their parents. If one parent has allergies, there is a one in four chance that a child will also have allergies. The risk increases if both parents have allergies.
Allergies also tend to occur in clusters.
If a child is allergic to one substance, it is likely that he will be allergic to others as well. There are also children who suffer from cross-reactions. For example, children who are allergic to birch pollen might have reactions when they eat apples, because apple protein is similar to the pollen. The type and severity of allergy symptoms vary from allergy to allergy and child to child. Some children may experience a combination of symptoms.