Surprise Findings Regarding Childhood Respiratory Allergies

Some think that allergies are only passed genetically. There are actually several factors that determine whether or not children will have food, respiratory, or skin allergies. Some of these findings regarding childhood respiratory allergies may surprise you. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the region of the country a child lives in, the years of schooling a child’s parents have, the amount of money their parents make, and the child’s gender potentially play a role in determining a child’s likelihood of showing symptoms of allergies.
Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
Midwest: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin,  Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas
West: Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii
South: Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi,  West South Central, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas.

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 Region

As you can see by viewing the infographic above, there are some slight differences in respiratory and hay fever percentages by region. The South takes the prize for the highest percentage of children with respiratory allergies and hay fever symptoms.

Gender

The child’s gender is also a factor. In every region, boys (between the ages of zero and seventeen) showed a higher percentage of hay fever/respiratory allergy symptoms than girls. In the most recent study, 2011 – 2013, boys in the Northeast showed symptoms of hay fever and respiratory allergies 15.7% of the time while girls showed symptoms 13.8% of the time. The gap of approximately two percent takes place in every region.

Other Factors

According to the CDC, race, family income level, and a parent’s educational are all factors when it comes to allergies.

“Hispanic children had a lower prevalence of food allergy, skin allergy, and respiratory allergy compared with children of other race or ethnicities. Non-Hispanic black children were more likely to have skin allergies and less likely to have respiratory allergies compared with non-Hispanic white children.

Food and respiratory allergy prevalence increased with income level. Children with family income equal to or greater than 200% of the poverty level had the highest prevalence rates. White children were more likely to have had hay fever (9%) than black children (7%). + Black children were more likely to have had skin allergies (19%) than Asian children (11%) or white children (10%).

Children with a parent who had education beyond a high school diploma were more likely to have had hay fever, respiratory allergies, food allergies, and skin allergies than children with a parent who had less than a high school diploma.

Overall health is also a factor when it comes to allergies. “Children in fair or poor health were two to three times as likely to have had respiratory allergies (30%), food allergies (18%), and skin allergies (28%) as children in excellent or very good health (9%, 5%, and 11%).”

Allergy Types

Of the three major allergy types (food, skin, and respiratory), the most common is respiratory. Nearly one in 5 children from the age of 10 – 17 reported a respiratory allergy condition within a one-year period.

 Fast Facts

Interesting fast facts (also from the CDC):

Nature’s Sunshine offers products that support the body’s efforts to maintain mucous membrane health especially when seasonal irritants are plentiful. One of these products is HistaBlock®.

Benefits:

• Supports the body in times of respiratory stress.
• Supports the body’s efforts to maintain a healthy mucous membrane.
• Supports free breathing and may help reduce unpleasant symptoms associated with irritants.

How It Works:

HistaBlock provides nutrients that support healthy respiratory function as the body battles irritants, pollutants and toxins. Stinging nettle provides well-known support against seasonal airborne substances. This formula provides antioxidant strength to help stabilize mast cells.
The antioxidant quercetin has been used for its reputed effects in supporting the respiratory system. Quercetin may help stabilize cells that release compounds when exposed to irritants. Bromelain is an enzyme that works to help reduce the swelling of mucous membranes during times of respiratory stress. Bitter orange contains synephrine, which helps the body support open airways.

Ingredients:

Nettle leaves, quercetin, Bitter orange fruit and bromelain.