DOCTORS in Southampton have launched an appeal to find 50 newly pregnant mums to help with a groundbreaking study into baby allergies.

Researchers will monitor mothers who eat eggs during pregnancy and examine its effect on the allergies of their children.

The work may lead to a deeper understanding of the trigger factors that lead some babies to develop asthma.

Dr Gill Vanks, who is leading the project, said: "We are exploring whether changes to a mother's diet during pregnancy can improve or change the allergic outcome of the baby.

"Babies born to allergic parents have a higher risk of developing allergies.

"Pregnancy is an important time - much more important that we previously thought.

"There's a lot of evidence over the last few years which suggest that egg sensitivity in infants is predictive of lots of allergies including asthma. It's also something that's fairly easy to avoid.

"Egg white is well recognised as an allergen. Egg allergies in infants are very common - causing rashes, vomiting and diarrhoea."

The mother and babies will be split into two groups at random - the first will receive the egg-free diet, the second a normal one.

Mums who participate have to be less than 19 weeks pregnant. Either the mother or the father must have some kind of allergy - from asthma and eczema to hay fever and animal allergies. The researchers will be carrying out quick tests at 24 weeks and 32 weeks. There will also be follow-up visits after birth, at three, six, 12 and 18 months to check for any signs of allergy.

Dr Vance said: "In return for their help, mums will have the advantage of being monitored throughout pregnancy and having immediate diagnosis of any allergies their babies might develop. Some parents have to wait two years before their child's wheezy chest is properly diagnosed - which is stressful for mother and baby."

For more information contact Lesley Gudgeon on 023 8079 4230.