ABSTRACT
The Western lifestyle includes a healthy hygiene environment, which permits the occurrence of minimal infections; however, the changed physical state becomes vulnerable to allergic diseases. In addition, with increasing economic development, the rate of incidence of allergies has been enhanced, owing to the frequent exposure of people to harmful substances, such as air pollutants and yellow dust, and to indoor antigens and hazardous components that are discharged from building materials, forcing people to spend more time indoors. In the 1990s, South Korea joined the ranks of advanced countries and, since then, the prevalence of allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergy, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, have rapidly increased by approximately three times; this clearly indicates that life habits and environmental factors significantly impact the development of allergic diseases. At present, one in every three South Koreans suffers from an allergic disease, and one in five suffers from allergy-induced rhinitis and asthma. Recent surveys have shown that the socioeconomic losses due to allergies, including asthma, are considerably high. A study on asthma and allergic rhinitis was conducted in Asian countries, which reported that South Koreans are still not completely aware of asthma and allergic rhinitis and are unable to receive adequate treatment.
