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DrGreene Content
- More than one third of Americans have allergies.
- In a survey by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, more than half of those who had a household member with allergies did not know of any allergy treatments other than drugs. (Another option for people with allergies and asthma is immunotherapy, or allergy shots.)
- Food allergies are fairly uncommon -- less than 5% of the U.S. population has a true food allergy (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). Approximately 0.5 percent of people are allergic to peanuts, 2.5 percent to milk, 1.3 percent to eggs, and 0.5 percent to shellfish. Most people who think they have a food allergy actually have a food intolerance. This is a subtle but important distinction that may determine which treatments are appropriate.
- People who get allergic symptoms during the winter may be allergic to mold spores. Molds remain outside much longer than pollen, and may be indoors year-round.
- More than 32 million Americans have chronic sinusitis, making it one of the most common chronic health conditions in the U.S.
A.D.A.M.
Reviewed by: Alan Greene MD FAAP
Originally published: July 29, 2002
Last reviewed and updated: July 2002
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