#WorldHealthDay2019: What the World Needs to Know About Allergies

Today is World Health Day, and the World Health Organization will once again gather key people around the globe to discuss and participate events that aim to help communities worldwide be aware of any health concerns affecting the world.

Just like 2018, the theme of World Health Day 2019 is "Universal Health Coverage." The organization aims to ensure that everyone can obtain the care they need, when they need it, right in the heart of the community. While the goal is to improve health care in general, a lot of people are hoping that the organization would set the spotlight on allergies and its impact on the world.

The Reasons Behind Allergies

Every year the number of people developing allergies is steadily rising with no sign of it slowing down. Some people are allergic to certain foods such as peanuts and shellfish. Some of them are allergic to milk. Other people may be allergic to allergens in the air like dust and pollen, making it hard for people to clean their houses or even leave it in spring.

And there are some people who are allergic to materials such as nickel, latex, spandex or leather. Regardless of what triggers a reaction the evidence is clear: allergies are now a worldwide concern and the number of people developing this condition is rising.

Real Impact

According to statistics, over 50 million Americans are developing allergies each year and this condition has become the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the country. The most lethal allergen of them all can be surprising for some because what was designed to provide comfort and relief to most people can also be the most dangerous allergen of all: medicines.

According to statistics, 20% of the world’s population that died from anaphylaxis did so through an allergic reaction to a drug. And the people who often succumb to anaphylactic shock brought about by medicines are the elderly and the African-American populace.

Every year around 200,000 patients are admitted in emergency rooms due to an allergic reaction to food. The expenses to treat those patients have risen to $25 billion annually, while for other allergies it has risen to $18 billion.

The effect that allergies have on the world has risen to a level where it looks like an epidemic of sorts. Of course, allergies aren’t like bacterial or viral diseases in that they are not contagious, but still the number of people developing allergies is rising steadily that it seems like an epidemic.

Hopefully, the WHO puts more attention on allergies and its impact on the globe in in order to expedite the development of a possible cure for this debilitating condition.