Allergies and the Hygiene Hypothesis
A marked increase in the incidence of allergies and atopic disorders is evident in developed countries, beginning in the 1960s and steadily progressing throughout the rest of the twentieth century.
Allergic Rhinitis
The rates of allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, and atopic sensitization in East German children increased significantly following the reunification of the country, which led to questions about the impact of Western lifestyle on the incidence of hay fever.
Atopic Asthma
The prevalence of asthma has risen by approximately 1% annually on a consistent basis from about 1980. Allergic asthma is thought to cause the majority of this increase, particularly among children. Some recent research appears to show a slowing of the trend of atopic disease as it reaches a plateau.
Eczema
The prevalence of eczema has also increased along with the other allergic diseases and is currently 10% of all children in the United States, as high as 18% in some states. This is in stark contrast to prevalence rates of 3.1 to 6.4% in the 1970s.
Food Allergy
The prevalence of food allergies has also ufabet https://ufabet999.app on the rise in recent decades, which may be link to the hygiene hypothesis. In 2008, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a report that notes an 18% increase in food allergies in children less than 18 years of age in the preceding 10 years. Additionally, children with food allergies were more likely affecte by another atopic disease such as asthma.