Allergy and asthma are among the most common heath problems, with more than 50 million people afflicted with asthma, seasonal hay fever, or other allergy-related conditions each year.
Allergies can affect anyone. Generally, allergies are more common in children; however, a first-time occurrence can happen at any age, or recur after many years of remission.
There is a tendency for allergies to occur in families, although the exact genetic factors that cause it are not yet understood.
Food allergies are seen in 6 percent of children under age three, and 3 percent of adults.
Nearly 25 million people in the US have been diagnosed with asthma, with at least 5 million of them children under the age of 18.
Asthma is the third ranking cause of childhood hospitalizations.