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Health Conditions
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Allergy
Who has it?
More than 50 million Americans have allergies. Allergic rhinitis
(inflammation in the nasal area) is the most common allergic disease, affecting at least 20 to 25 percent of the population. Typically, symptoms first appear between ages two and three, peak during the early teens, show a smaller increase in early adulthood, then diminish with age.
Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. It has been estimated that allergies cost almost $6 billion annually in workplace productivity. Direct health care costs of allergic rhinitis are increasing each year. These costs include money spent on medication ($2.3 billion--including prescription and over-the-counter drugs), visits to the doctor's office (approximately 16.7 million office visits to health care providers each year are attributed to allergic rhinitis which all together costs $1.1 billion), and medical tests.
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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.
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Who has it?
