Dhaka, Sept. 21 -- Allergies are often associated with childhood, but they can emerge at almost any stage of life, sometimes after years without a reaction to a particular food or environmental trigger.

"Any person, at any point in their life, can develop a new allergy," allergist Kelly Colas says.

Researchers are examining how infections, changes in the gut microbiome, hormonal shifts and even tick bites may contribute to new allergic reactions, the BBC reports.

When COVID-19 May Play a Role

Some people are genetically predisposed to allergies, but genetics alone does not explain why symptoms emerge.

"Often, something is turning it on," says Ruchi Gupta, director of the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at Northwestern Uni...