If you have a family history of allergic conditions, it makes sense to try to reduce the risk of your children developing allergic diseases.

If you or your partner has an allergy, your child has a 30 percent chance of inheriting the allergic gene and therefore could develop eczema, asthma, hay fever or a food allergy. If both parents have a history of some allergic condition, your child has a 40 to 60 percent chance of having a child with some form of allergy.

If you have a history of allergy in the family, and are looking to start a family you can take some important steps.

Think you, or someone you know, may be at risk?

Content updated January 2017