Allergies Every third adult is allergic

Every third German citizen suffers from an allergy

27/02/2012

According to a survey, around 35 percent of adults in Germany suffer from one or more allergies. This was the result of a representative survey by the opinion and research institute Forsa on behalf of the German Dermatological Society (DDG). The most common allergy is pollen allergy and hay fever.

Constant sneezing, swollen eyes, rashes, burning and itching: One in three Germans, according to one suffers from an allergy. In the course of a survey study, a total of 1004 after one „systematic random process selected people from 18 years of age in Germany on the subject of allergies“ questioned.

Especially women suffer from allergies
52 percent said the topic „Allergies are very important or important to them“. According to this, 48 ​​percent of respondents considered the topic less or not at all important „allergy“. The younger the participants were, the less important the topic was. One third of the subjects stated that they had already been diagnosed with allergies by a dermatologist or therapist. Especially common among middle-aged women (30 to 33 years) with one „high level of education“ to be affected. 42 percent of women said they had a diagnosed allergy.

Most people suffer from a pollen allergy
In position one of the most common allergies is the classic hay fever, caused by a pollen allergy before. Around 43 percent of allergy sufferers. 23 percent of those affected said they were allergic to house dust mites. 20 percent are allergic to animal hair from dogs, cats or other small animals, 15 percent have contact allergy and 14 percent are allergic to certain medicines. 9 percent react to insect stings of bees or wasps and 5 percent are allergic to UV or sunlight. Those who suffer from hay fever show 71 percent allergic reactions in so-called „early bloomers“ like hazel, birch or alder. 58 percent are allergic to grasses or cereals and 21 percent to herbs.

Recognition of eczema demanded as a chronic disease
As the German Dermatological Society (DGG) announced on Friday in Berlin, therefore, eczema, food intolerances, allergic asthma and specific contact allergies play a minor role, but the symptoms are mostly pronounced. For this reason, the chairman of the Institute for Health Services Research in dermatology at the Hamburg University Hospital, Dr. med. Matthias Augustin that „Eczema is recognized as a serious chronic disease“. In addition to the severe symptoms such as itchy skin, patients suffer due to the symptoms in part to depression or sleep disorders. To care for the skin, most sufferers need „Use moisturizing creams to soothe the itching“. Because the disease is not recognized as a chronic disease, „the costs for this are not paid by the health insurance companies“. For low-income households, the additional expenses are a particular financial burden because the funds do not pay.

The majority consider allergic reactions to be distressing
The majority of allergy sufferers (53 percent) experience their illness as stressful. About one-fifth said that the allergy negatively affects one's own performance. Among them were many people suffering from atopic dermatitis who are struggling with red, itchy skin and eczema. Atopic dermatitis affects up to 20 percent of all children and 2 percent of adults. The allergy was especially stressful for women over the age of 45 years. 63 percent said the chronic illness was very stressful or distressing.

Treatment options of school and natural medicine
In the case of a pollen allergy, conventional medicine offers not only symptomatically alleviating sprays and creams, but also so-called hyposensitization. The cures usually last between 6 and 8 weeks. „In contrast, naturopathy relies on therapy that looks at the entire organism“, explained Klaus Hahn, non-medical practitioner from Hannover. In addition to homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture is also being stepped up „Self-blood therapy, hypnosis, Bach flower therapy and intestinal rehabilitation“ set. While the hyposensitization is recognized as a cash benefit, the latter are not paid by the statutory health insurance. (Sb)

Read about:
Cats and dogs reduce allergy risk
Alternative treatments for allergies
House dust allergy sufferers find no peace in winter
Protection against brain tumors by allergy antibodies
Allergy suffer from extreme pollen load

Picture credits: Thomas Blenkers