US Allergy Stats & Facts

Interested in learning some US allergy stats? Are you suffering from an allergy or have you had one in childhood? You might have one, as it is rare to be completely immune from allergies – especially if you are a US citizen. Of all the leading chronic diseases Americans suffer, allergies rank 6^th – affecting 50 million people a year.

Allergies are not age-specific – thirty percent of adults and 40 percent American children fall their prey. Allergies have various forms; you may develop a minor skin allergy, rhinitis, or a severe food allergy. Allergies are so common that almost every household has to deal with them – it is no surprise that the annual cost of allergies has exceeded $18 billion.

Some Facts to Look At

It is important for you to know which allergies tend to affect you more than others so you can take some action. Here is a statistical breakdown of the most frequent allergies Americans suffer.

Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

Spring season is here, and you are likely to develop Rhinitis as the pollen count is higher these days. You may be sneezing, or rubbing your eyes while reading this piece, as they are itching. Hold on; you are not the only. Hay fever affects nearly 20 million adults and almost 6.1 million children in the US.

Food Allergies

Food is the basic necessity of life. However, this very necessity may endanger your life as a result of a reaction. Some food proteins may come under the attack of your immune system triggering allergenic reactions. From an itchy mouth, swollen face and lips to breathing difficulties, you may experience varying degrees of reaction.

• Thirty-two million Americans suffer from food allergies, 5.6 million of whom are children.
• Every 13^th child in America has some food allergy. Families in the US, with children having an allergic condition, spend around $25 billion on healthcare annually.
• Do you know that more than 170 foods may cause allergenic symptoms? Peanut is the main causative food allergen.
• Food allergies send nearly 200,000 Americans to Emergency Rooms each year.

Skin Allergies

Sometime you may come into contact with an allergy-causing inflammatory skin, rash, and itching. Infants are most likely to develop skin allergies. In 2015 only, nearly 8.8 million children were reported to have skin allergies. If you have a child at home, stop people from kissing him on the cheeks or forehead as he may contract an allergy.

As an adult, your immune system may trigger allergenic symptoms to some plants –such as poison oak or poison ivy – hair products, cosmetics, certain food, or even cockroaches.

Insect Allergy

A bee or wasp sting also cause allergies. Insects like cockroaches also lighten up allergic symptoms. Nearly 5 percent of the US citizens face allergies due to insect stings. Sadly, 90 to 100 people lose their lives each year in the country because of an insect sting anaphylaxis.

Conclusion

You are at the risk of developing an allergy more than ever before – the number of those developing an allergy is increasing every year. Your allergy may not outgrow, but you can manage it with your allergist’s help.

Contact us and schedule an appointment with the best allergist at Dr. Sneeze in NYC.

Boyan Hadjiev, MD
30 East 40th Street
New York, NY 10016
212-319-5282