How common is allergic rhinitis?

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How common is allergic rhinitis?

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease and the most common of the allergic diseases. It affects about 40 million people in the United States.¹

Whether you are affected by allergic rhinitis varies by age. Of people who have allergic rhinitis:²

32% are age 17 and younger.
43% are age 18 to 44.
17% are age 45 to 64.
8% are age 65 and older.

Most people who have allergic rhinitis have a parent, brother, or sister who has allergic rhinitis, asthma, or skin allergies. It is more likely a child will have an allergy if both parents have an allergy or have the same type of allergy.³

References

Citations
Sanico AM (2007). Allergy and related conditions. In NH Fiebach et al., eds., Barker, Burton and Zieve's Principles of Ambulatory Medicine, 7th ed., pp. 437–457. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Slavin RG (2005). Allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and sinusitis. In DC Dale, DD Federman, eds., ACP Medicine, section 6, chap. 12. New York: WebMD.
Fireman P (2000). Therapeutic approaches to allergic rhinitis: Treating the child. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 105(6, Part 2): S616–S621.

Credits

Author	Debby Golonka, MPH
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology
Last Updated	August 8, 2007

Last updated:	August 08, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Harold S. Nelson, MD - Allergy and Immunology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman

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