Allergies
Allergies constitute the fastest growing clinical indication. An estimated 50 to 60 million people in the USA and 80 million in Europe suffer from allergies (AAAAI and EFA) and their prevalence has risen steadily over the past decades in the United States and in developed countries worldwide (Finemann 20021; NIAID 2003). Untreated, severe allergies have been further implicated in the development of serious cases of asthma.
Table: Estimated allergy prevalence in USA and Europe
1Fineman SM. The burden of allergic rhinitis: beyond dollars and cents. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2002; 88:2-7