Researchers say children with eczema and sensitization to allergens by their first birthday were seven times more likely to have food allergies and asthma.

Predicting which children will develop dangerous food allergies and asthma has been a goal for many doctors for decades. However, often there’s little indication that a child is at risk until they break out into hives or have an asthma attack.

But a new study finds evidence of signs that allergies and asthma can be predicted as early as a child’s first birthday. A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that children who had eczema and an allergen sensitivity by age 1 were seven times more likely to develop asthma and food allergies by age 3 than children who didn’t test positive for these conditions.