WHY HAS ALLERGY BECOME EPIDEMIC

Heredity plays a role, but genes cannot explain the sharp increase over the past 30 years, particularly in developed countries.


Allergy is becoming epidemic in the United States. Up to 30% of adults and 40% of children now suffer from allergic rhinitis. Yet, despite their ubiquity, allergies remain mysterious. Genes are a factor, but they alone cannot account for the significant rise in allergies in the last 30 years, especially in the developed countries.

Many culprits have been proposed, including pollution and changes in lifestyle. The most startling possibility: Allergy may be caused by the success of civilization. As modern life has become more hygienic, with indoor plumbing, immunizations, and antibiotics, the human immune system is not kept running at its fullest capacity. Thus, the immune system attacks allergens to keep itself busy.

Fortunately, for the first time in decades, completely new allergy treatments are in the works. Using tools from molecular biology and genetics, researches are devising once-a-month allergy shots and vaccines that could make life virtually allergy free for millions.

The problem is not just pollen, but a host of triggers, including nuts and latex. With people spending 90 % of their time indoors, allergies to cats, molds and dust mites have become a serious health concern. Most adults work in climate controlled offices, and children play indoors after school instead of riding bikes around the neighborhood. As a result, indoor allergens have become a larger problem.

Finding out what sets off a person’s allergies isn’t too hard. An allergist can perform a skin-prick test, and blood tests are sometimes used to detect antibodies to allergens. It’s figuring out what to do next that’s difficult.

The primary weapon remains antihistamines. Although allergy shots are effective, they can cause reactions that are dangerous. There are new medications in the pipeline, such as an “anti-IgE” drugs, monoclonal antibody and anti-leukotriene drugs - such as Accolate and Singular that have proved useful for treating asthma and allergies since 1996. Scientists are working hard to create more medications. But the ultimate goal in allergy treatment may be to convince the body right from the outset that allergens are not worthy of an immune response at all.



Among the many allergies, food allergies are rare, but they are also the most dangerous, affecting mostly children. For now, the only way to evade the risk is to avoid the food.

Throughout the house, frequent cleaning with a HEPA vacuum is recommended. A HEPA or electrostatic filter on your heating and air-conditioning system will also help capture some of the dust.

There are plenty of other ways to rid one’s house of allergy triggers. As Jayne Ruppenkamp, author of 101 WAYS TO REDUCE ALLERGENS IN YOUR HOME, puts it, “Do as much or as little as it takes to make you feel better.”

(Summarized from U.S. News & World Report, May 8, 2000 pp46-53. Article by Nancy Shite)