My OperaWho gets allergies?
Sunday, June 27, 2010 4:38:58 PM
Some people have a tendency to develop a variety of allergies. The medical term for this tendency is atopy, and we call these individuals atopic. Atopy tends to run in families.
Is atopy always inherited?
That is a very complex question. There is clearly a genetic component, but the development of allergies is also determined by exposure to allergens during a person’s lifetime. Some people who don’t have a family history of atopy still develop allergies, and some people with a family history of atopy don’t develop allergies.
What is the overlap between people with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and those with asthma?
Atopic people may have allergic rhinitis, they may have asthma triggered by allergies, and often they’ll have both. If you look at children with asthma, about 70 percent to 80 percent also have allergic reactions to common substances in the air such as pollen, mold, dust mites, animal dander and so on. When they inhale a substance that they are sensitive to, it can trigger an asthmatic reaction.
About 20 percent of children with asthma are not allergic to such things as pollens or molds. Their asthma may be turned on by other factors such as exercise, cold air or respiratory infection.
It’s estimated that 40 percent to 50 percent of adult asthmatics also have allergies. Often, this group has had asthma since childhood. About 50 percent to 60 percent of adult asthmatics do not have allergic triggers for their asthma.
Is atopy always inherited?
That is a very complex question. There is clearly a genetic component, but the development of allergies is also determined by exposure to allergens during a person’s lifetime. Some people who don’t have a family history of atopy still develop allergies, and some people with a family history of atopy don’t develop allergies.
What is the overlap between people with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and those with asthma?
Atopic people may have allergic rhinitis, they may have asthma triggered by allergies, and often they’ll have both. If you look at children with asthma, about 70 percent to 80 percent also have allergic reactions to common substances in the air such as pollen, mold, dust mites, animal dander and so on. When they inhale a substance that they are sensitive to, it can trigger an asthmatic reaction.
About 20 percent of children with asthma are not allergic to such things as pollens or molds. Their asthma may be turned on by other factors such as exercise, cold air or respiratory infection.
It’s estimated that 40 percent to 50 percent of adult asthmatics also have allergies. Often, this group has had asthma since childhood. About 50 percent to 60 percent of adult asthmatics do not have allergic triggers for their asthma.
