According to an international study, it was revealed that children are likely to develop peanut allergy due to a certain gene defect in their body.

Researchers have studied very closely regarding the changes in the gene filaggrin. This gene helps the skin to protect against the allergens. The changes or defect in this gene are found to cause less protection and skin gets frequent allergies. This also increases the risk of eczema and asthma according to the UK, Dutch and Canadian researchers.

It has now been found that this change in the gene causes peanut allergies as well. This result was published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in March 2011.

"It was a logical next step to investigate whether filaggrin may also be a cause of peanut allergy, since a child may develop all three of these diseases together", Dr. Sara Brown of the division of molecular medicine at the University of Dundee said in a release.

Allergies are often known to be hereditary factor in a family. The study also claims that the changes in the environment and exposure to peanuts have caused this allergy to increase among people.

The statistics of the study indicates that one on every five people suffering from peanut allergy have a filaggrin defect.