ABSTRACT
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17.1 PREVALENCE AND IMPACT OF ALLERGIC DISEASES
Allergic diseases rank fourth among world diseases as recorded by the World Health Organization and they are becoming an increasing public health issue worldwide (1). Allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic diseases in the US, costing the health care system, $18 billion per year (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, The allergy report 1996-2001: Allergy Statistics https://www.aaaai.org/media/resources/media_kit/ allergy_statistics.stm). Food allergy is a rapidly increasing phenomenon in industrial countries. Up to 25% increase every 10 years has been reported within children, as well as adult, populations. Food allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis treated in American hospital emergency rooms. It is estimated that in the US, food allergies affect 6 to 8% of the children and 1% of the adult population. In France, about 5% of the population is affected, and in the UK, about 2% (1). Food allergy is defined as an allergy that occurs when the immune system mistakenly responds defensively to a specific food protein that is not harmful to the body.
