In a prospective study on 318 non-selected infants signs of atopy as well as interrelations with feeding regimens and family history of atopic disease were investigated at the age of 1 1/2 year. The study population was recruited from preterm and term babies hospitalized 1985 in the University Children's Hospital Freiburg, Germany. The most common symptom was eczema. In addition, clinical symptoms of atopy in first degree relatives were a significant risk factor. Because the highest incidence of atopic symptoms occurred in preterm born children with allergic background in their families, we therefore consider this population at highest risk to develop atopic disease. On the other hand there was no significant influence of breast feeding, cow's milk formula and the time of intake of allergenic food on the clinical manifestation of atopy in any group. Although eczema occurred predominantly in infants with higher social level the respiratory tract symptoms were reported more frequently in children from working class families. We therefore regard the social status as an important confounding variable in the studies of risk factors for the development of allergy.