Most Common Allergies
Allergic rhinitis, hives, asthma and other types of allergies
- A child with one allergic parent will have a 33% chance of developing allergies
- A child with two allergic parents will have a 70% chance of developing allergies
- Almost all U.S. households have measurable levels of cat and dog dander
- Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is the 5th most common chronic illness in the U.S.
- Just over 50% of the U.S. population has positive tests to environmental allergies
- Patients with allergic reactions to insect stings such as bees or wasps can decrease the chance of a life-threatening reaction by over 95% with immunotherapy (allergy shots)
- In non-smokers, post-nasal drainage, asthma, and acid reflux are the three most common causes of a chronic cough. Frequently, two or more causes are present at the same time.
- About 20% of the population experiences hives at some point in their life.
- Less than half of patients with asthma have symptoms that are well-controlled.
- Over a recent 10-year period, the number of children with peanut allergies has doubled (approximately 1-2% of children have peanut or tree nut allergies.)
- Milk, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, wheat, and soy cause 90% of all food allergies in the U.S.
- Histamine is a chemical found in the skin and respiratory tract that is released in response to environmental allergies. When released in the nose and eyes, it can cause sneezing, itching, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy watery eyes. When released in the lungs it can contribute to asthma symptoms. In the skin, it can cause hives. Prescription and over-the-counter anti-histamines counter-act the effects of histamine released in the body.
