Allergies of all kinds are on the increase, but two of the biggest reported problems, in terms of family wellness, are skin and food allergies, according to a large survey carried out by the government recently.
Experts can’t be sure what is causing this increase, although they do have several theories. One such theory is that children are now growing up in households that are too clean and sanitised, leaving them more sensitive to the outside world and meaning that the smallest amount of allergen can then trigger an allergy.
Another theory is that parents these days are far more ‘hands on’ and are more likely to take their child to the doctor for every little rash or reaction that their child experiences, and therefore diagnosis is at a much higher level.
The answer is unclear, but whatever the root cause, it cannot be denied that the reported allergy level is at an all-time high. This survey suggests that around 1 in 20 children in the U.S. suffers from a food allergy, which marks a 50 percent increase since the late 1990s. In terms of eczema and a variety of other skin allergies, the rate is around one in eight children, which shows an increase of around 69 percent. Surprisingly, there has been no increase in the reported rates of hay fever or of any other of the respiratory types of allergy.
Schools and nurseries have already been implementing strategies to help reduce incidences of allergy flare-ups, doing things such as banning peanuts and making sure that they always have a stock of anti-allergy medication to hand. Food allergies are often the most feared type of allergy, as severe cases can cause anaphylactic shock, which, in its worst form, can even lead to death, as it causes the airways to swell and shut down the respiratory system.
Yup