Half of U.S. Citizens Test Positive to Allergens

54.6% of all U.S. citizens test positive to one or more allergens, according to American Academy of Allergy Asthma&Immunology. Allergic diseases affect about 50 million Americans. Allergic rhinitis affects between 10% and 30% of all adults and as many as 40% of children. The prevalence of rhinitis is around 35% in Europe and Australasia, according to the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Allergic Rhinitis is estimated to affect approximately 60 million people in the United States, and its prevalence is increasing. Approximately 12% of Americans under 45 years old have symptoms of chronic sinusitis.

About 27% of children who have a food allergy also have eczema or a skin allergy. Atopic dermatitis affects between 10% and 20% of children and 1% to 3% of adults. Kids with a food allergy are two to four times more likely to have conditions such as asthma and other allergies. Food allergies affect about 6% of children under the age of three. “Food allergies are becoming increasingly common today,” said Margaret Fox, UEA’s School of Medicine Health Policy and Practice.