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Allergies
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Allergic Diseases

In the United States, an estimated 40 to 50 million people suffer from allergies. An estimated 33 million people have chronic sinusitis, the most prevalent allergy-related disease. Pollen allergy, commonly called hay fever, affects an estimated 19 million Americans and prompts 8 million office visits to physicians. Food allergies are believed to occur in 8 percent of children younger than 3 years old. In addition, each year billions of dollars are spent on treating allergic diseases in the United States.

When an allergic person comes in contact with an allergen (allergy-provoking substance), cells of the immune system produce an unusual class of antibody (disease-fighting protein). This class of antibody is called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, and it starts the classic allergic response. Among allergic individuals, how and to what extent their immune system responds to a particular allergen is influenced by genetic as well as environmental factors.

While allergic reactions to airborne allergens such as pollen, mold, or dust usually cause relatively minor discomfort, sensitivity to substances such as penicillin, insect venom, or peanuts can cause anaphylaxis, a serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction. Anaphylactic reactions to penicillin are responsible for an estimated 1 to 8 deaths per million population. An estimated 1 to 2 million people experience severe allergic reactions to insect stings each year. Moreover, severe, life-threatening allergic reactions to food may occur as frequently as those to insect stings.

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