Allergies, a very prevalent disease
The World Health Organisation considers allergic diseases to be one of the six most frequent pathologies throughout the world. It is calculated that, a present, they could affect 25% of the population. In Spain, allergy is the most prevalent disease, with allergists most frequently treating cases of hay fever, asthma or allergy to medicines.
In Spain, one of every four people suffers from some kind of allergic disorder. The European Centre of the Foundation for Allergy Research now calculates that one out of every two babies born in Europe at present will have an allergy of some kind during their lifetime. The World Health Organisation estimates that 25% of the world population is currently affected by this disease, a pathology that in recent decades has increased its appearance. During the second half of the 20th century its prevalence has multiplied by five in developed countries. Amongst others, the reasons for this could be pollution or climate change. A study by the Barcelona Instituto de Salud Global affirms that 33% of new cases of childhood asthma in Europe, for example, are caused by air pollution. Allergy diseases are also one of the most frequent pathologies in childhood. 4% of children suffer from atopic dermatitis and 5% from food allergies.
The usual suspects
Any allergy starts in a person’s immune system, preventing tolerance to pathogens. The body responds as if these factors were viruses and in spite of their being inoffensive, it mistakenly sees them as a threat to the organism. The response or reaction is the allergy itself. The most common symptoms are sneezing, a runny nose, rashes, puffiness or asthma attacks. In Spain, it is the most common disease amongst the population, where the main pathologies treated by allergists are allergic hay fever – which affects 21% of Spaniards, asthma and allergy to medicines. Allergies are caused by many factors or triggers, a fact that makes it difficult for many people to discover the source of their disease.
Amongst the most common allergens pollen, dust mites, some cosmetics, mould, some fragrances or medicines stand out, as well as some foods such as milk or dried fruit and nuts. The “suspects” can come into contact with the organism through the nose or mouth, but they also can be ingested or be injected, such as the case of insect bites. When treating all these cases, which can range from slight to serious, doctors prescribe medicines or injections; although prevention is the main tool. That is to say, the person should avoid the factor or substance that causes the allergy.
