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Facts and Figures 

Allergies 

Allergies are reactions of the immune system to substances that, in most people, cause no symptoms. Contact with allergens can cause symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, headache, and more.

Respiratory
Allergies affect more than 60 million people in the United States, see table in the right coloumn.1

Source for above table:

  • On average, a patient is allergic to more than 2 sources.2
  • Allergic disease is the 5th most prevalent chronic disease in the U.S. among all ages, the 3rd most prevalent among children.3
  • Allergy is a chronic condition that can require a lifetime of symptomatic medications.4
  • Allergic disease costs patients $7.9 billion per year.5
  • Approximately 16.7 million physician office visits each year are due to allergic rhinitis.6
  • In the United States, Allergic Rhinitis results in 3.5 million lost workdays and 2 million lost school days annually.7

Food

  • More than 12 million Americans suffer from food allergy.8
  • Almost 7 million Americans are allergic to seafood and 3.3 million allergic to peanuts or tree nuts.8
  • Eight foods account for 90% of all food allergies in the U.S.: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish.8
  • More than 150 people die annually from anaphylaxis due to food allergies.9

Skin

  • Allergic dermatitis, characterized by itchy rash, is the most common skin condition in children under the age of 11 years. The prevalence of allergic dermatitis has increased from 3% in the 1960s to 10% in the 1990s.10
  • Acute urticaria ,also known as hives, is common and affects up to 20 percent of the population at some point.11

Insect

  • At least 40 deaths occur annually in the United States from reactions to insect stings.12
  • Up to 13.5 million people in the US are allergic to insect stings and may be at risk for anaphylaxis.13

Asthma
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease, often caused by allergies, that causes inflammation of the lungs and difficulty breathing.

  • More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma.14
  • Approximately nine million U.S. children have been diagnosed with asthma.15
  • In the US, the prevalence of asthma increased 75% from 1980-1994. Among children under the age of five, the prevalence of asthma increased 160% during the same time.16
  • Asthma attributed to 12.7 million physician office visits and 1.2 million outpatient department visits in 2003.14
  • Approximately 5,000 asthma sufferers die because of their asthma every year.14
  • Asthma costs patients more than $11.5 billion annually. Prescription medication is the largest single medical expenditure, totaling over $5 billion.14
  • Asthma accounts for approximately 28 million missed school and work days annually.17

Progression of allergies to asthma

  • Rhinitis and asthma are part of the same allergic condition, and co-exist in up to 80% of patients.18, 19, 20
  • 10 million Americans suffer specifically from allergic asthma.21

Immunotherapy

  • According to the World Health Organization, Immunotherapy is the only allergy treatment that fights the underlying cause of allergies.22, 23, 24
  • Immunotherapy prevents the development of asthma and new sensitizations, provides sustained symptom prevention, and reduces the need for symptomatic medication.25-36
  • Current symptomatic medications reduce symptoms, but do not treat the underlying cause of allergy.22

Patient Satisfaction

  • Doctors and patients agree that there is a need for increased awareness and education regarding the allergy epidemic, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
  • One-third of patients treated for their allergic symptoms are dissatisfied with the treatment. 37

 

Warnings and Indications
Hyposensitization therapy is a treatment for patients exhibiting allergic reactions to seasonal pollens, dust mites, animal danders and various other inhalants in situations where the offending allergen cannot be avoided.

Prior to initiation of therapy, the clinical sensitivity should be established by careful evaluation of the patient's history confirmed by diagnostic skin testing. Hyposensitization should not be prescribed for sensitivities to allergens which can easily be avoided.

Although allergen immunotherapy has been proven to be highly effective in treating the underlying cause of allergies, patients on allergen immunotherapy may experience side effects.

Numerous controlled studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy with cat, dust mites and some pollen extracts. Nevertheless, responses are variable, and in a few studies patients reported no appreciable benefit.

As with all allergenic extracts, severe systemic reactions may occur. In certain individuals, these life-threatening reactions may be fatal.

Full prescribing information for allergenic extracts is available under the Products & Ordering section of the website.

Data from some references cited above were based on studies performed with products other than those manufactured by ALK-Abelló, Inc.

  1. Annals of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, Vol. 81, Sept. 1998, P. 203.
  2. Arch Pediatr Adolesc med / vol 156, Oct. 2002.
  3. "Chronic Conditions; A Challenge for the 21st Century". National Academy on an Aging Society, 2000.
  4. Lombardi C, et al. Respir Med 2001; 95: 9-12.
  5. Stempel DA. The health and economic impact of rhinitis. A roundtable discussion. Am J Manag Care. 1997;3:S8-S18.
  6. CDC. Fast Stats A-Z, Vital and Health Statistics, Series 10, no. 13. 1999. Web:
  7. Nathan RA. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2007 Jan-Feb;28(1):3-9.
  8. The Food Allergy And Anap. "What You Should Know About Living with Food Allergy."
  9. "Fatalities due to anaphylactic reactions to foods." J of Allergy and Clin. Immunology. (2001) 107:191-193.
  10. Horan, R.F., Schneider, L.C., Sheffer, A.L. "Allergic Disorders and Mastocytosis." Journal of the American Medical Association. (1992) 268:2858-2868.
  11. CDC, Vita and Health Statistics, Current Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, 1994 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Center for Health Statistics): DHHS Pub. No. PHS 96-1521, December 1995.
  12. Barnard JH. JACI. 1973.
  13. Golden DB, et al. JAMA. 1989.
  14. American Lung Association. Epidemiology & statistics Unit, Research and Program Services. Trends in Asthma Morbidity and Mortality May 2005.
  15. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2002. Series 10, Number 221.2004-1549
  16. Centers for Disease Control. Surveillance for Asthma - United States, 1960-1995, MMWR. 1998; 47 (SS-1).
  17. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Surveillance for Asthma - United States, 1980-1999 (Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health); MMWR; 51(SS01):1-13.
  18. Togias A. Allergy 1999; 54. Suppl 57, 94-105.
  19. Jacobsen L, et al. Allergy 2002; 57 (s73): 23.
  20. Simons FER. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999; 104: 534-540.
  21. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Fact Sheet #9: Asthma and its Environmental Triggers: Scientists Take a Practical New Look at a Familiar Illness.
  22. Bousquet J, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998; 102: 558-562.
  23. Malling H-J, et al. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2006; 16 (3): 162-168.
  24. Durham SR, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006; 117: 802-809.
  25. Pajno GB, et al. Clin Exp Allergy 2001; 31 (9): 1392-1397.
  26. Möller C, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2002; 109: 251-256.
  27. Novembre E, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2004; 114: 851-857.
  28. Niggemann B, et al. Allergy 2006; 61 (7): 855-859.
  29. Jacobsen L, et al. Allergy 1997; 52: 914-920.
  30. Durham SR, et al. N Engl J Med 1999; 341 (7): 468-475.
  31. Hedlin G, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995; 96: 879-885.
  32. Mosbech H, et al. Allergy 1988; 43 (7): 523-529.
  33. Di Rienzo V, et al. Clin Exp Allergy 2003; 33: 206-210.
  34. Dahl R, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006; 118: 434-440.
  35. Dahl R, et al. Allergy 2006; 61: 185-190.
  36. Wilson DR, et al. Allergy 2005; 60: 4-12.
  37. Chivato, T., et al. EAACI Paris 2003. 2003; 58 (Suppl. 74): 235-236.
Allergies in the US
 Total allergic population  60 million
 Grasses  56%
 House Dust Mites  45%
 Ragweed  49%
 Birch  23%
 Cat  39%
 Dog  19%
 Food  10%
 Venom  13%