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Allergy Facts

  • Asthma and allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), food allergy, and atopic dermatitis (eczema), are common for all age groups in the United States. Asthma affects more than 17 million adults and more than 7 million children.1
  • Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. with an annual cost in excess of $18 billion. More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year.2
  • Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, is a common condition that causes symptoms such as sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, watery eyes and itching of the nose, eyes or the roof of the mouth.
  • Allergic rhinitis can be seasonal or perennial.
  • Symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis occur in spring, summer and/or early fall. They are usually caused by allergic sensitivity to pollens from trees, grasses or weeds, or to airborne mold spores.
  • People with perennial allergic rhinitis experience symptoms year-round. Perennial allergic rhinitis is generally caused by sensitivity to house dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches and/or mold spores. Underlying or hidden food allergies rarely cause perennial nasal symptoms.
  • Once diagnosed, allergic rhinitis treatment options are: avoidance, eliminating or decreasing your exposure to the irritants or allergens that trigger your symptoms, medication and immunotherapy (allergy shots).
  • Immunotherapy (allergy shots) helps reduce hay fever symptoms in about 85% of people with allergic rhinitis.
  • The prevalence of food and skin allergies increased in children under 18 years from 1997-2011.3
  • In data published from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 8.4% of US children under age 18 suffered from hay fever, 10% from respiratory allergies, 5.4% from food allergies, and 11.6% from skin allergies.4

Sources

  1. Allergic Diseases (NIH)
  2. Allergies: Gateway to Health Communication (CDC)
  3. NCHS Data Brief, Number 121 (CDC)
  4. National Health Interview Survey, 2014 (CDC)

 

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunlogy:

ALLERGY STATISTICS

 

Allergic Rhinitis

  • Roughly 7.8% of people 18 and over in the U.S. have hay fever.4
  • In 2010, white children in the U.S. were more likely to have had hay fever (10%) than black children (7%).1
  • Worldwide, allergic rhinitis affects between 10% and 30 % of the population.3
  • Worldwide, sensitization (IgE antibodies) to foreign proteins in the environment is present in up to 40% of the population.3
  • In 2012, 7.5% or 17.6 million adults were diagnosed with hay fever in the past 12 months.5
  • In 2012, 9.0% or 6.6 million children reported hay fever in the past 12 months.6
  • In 2010, 11.1 million visits to physician offices resulted with a primary diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.7

Drug Allergy

  • Worldwide, adverse drug reactions may affect up to 10% of the world’s population and affect up to 20% of all hospitalized patients.3
  • Worldwide, drugs may be responsible for up to 20% of fatalities due to anaphylaxis.3

Food Allergy

  • Findings from a 2009 to 2010 study of 38,480 children (infant to 18) indicated:2

8% have a food allergy

Approximately 6% aged 0-2 years have a food allergy

About 9% aged 3-5 years have a food allergy

Nearly 8% aged 6-10 years have a food allergy

Approximately 8% aged 11-13 years have a food allergy

More than 8.5% aged 14-18 years have a food allergy

  • 7% of food allergic children have a history of severe reactions
  • 4% of food allergic children have multiple food allergies
  • Of food allergic children, peanut is the most prevalent allergen, followed by milk and then shellfish
  • In 2012, 5.6% or 4.1 million children reported food allergies in the past 12 months.6

General Allergy

  • Worldwide, the rise in prevalence of allergic diseases has continued in the industrialized world for more than 50 years.3
  • Worldwide, sensitization rates to one or more common allergens among school children are currently approaching 40%-50%.3
  • In 2012, 10.6% or 7.8 million children reported respiratory allergies in the past 12 months.6

Insect Allergy

  • Worldwide, in up to 50% of individuals who experience a fatal reaction there is no documented history of a previous systemic reaction.3

Sinusitis

  • Roughly 13% of people 18 and over in the U.S. have sinusitis.4

Skin Allergy

  • In 2010, black children in the U.S. were more likely to have had skin allergies (17%) than white (12%) or Asian (10%) children.1
  • Worldwide, urticaria occurs with lifetime prevalence above 20%.3
  • In 2012, 12.0% or 8.8 million children reported skin allergies in the past 12 months.6

References

  1. Bloom B, Cohen RA, Freeman G. Summary health statistics for U.S. children: National Health Interview Survey, 2010. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(250). 2011.
  1. Gupta, R, et al. The Prevalence, Severity and Distribution of Childhood Food Allergy in the United States. Pediatrics 2011; 10.1542/ped.2011-0204.
  1. World Health Organization. White Book on Allergy 2011-2012 Executive Summary. By Prof. Ruby Pawankar, MD, PhD, Prof. Giorgio WalkterCanonica, MD, Prof. Stephen T. Holgate, BSc, MD, DSc, FMedSci and Prof. Richard F. Lockey, MD.
  1. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2010. By Jeannine S. Schiller, M.P.H., Jacqueline W. Lucas, M.P.H., Brian W. Ward, PhD and Jennifer A. Peregory, M.P.H., Division of Health Interview Statistics.
  1. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2012, table 3, 4.
  1. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2012, table 2.
  1. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2010 Summary Tables, table 13.
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