Allergic Conditions on the Rise: Nearly One-Third of US Adults and Children Affected in 2024
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Nearly one-third of both adults and children in the United States – 31.7% of adults and 29.5% of children – were diagnosed with a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy in 2024, according to new data released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The findings, published in two data briefs online January 8, highlight a growing public health concern as allergic conditions become increasingly prevalent across the nation.
Adult Allergy Prevalence: A Rural-Metro Divide
Researchers, led by Lauren Bottoms-McClain, M.P.H., from the NCHS, analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey to determine the scope of diagnosed allergic conditions among US adults in 2024. The study revealed that over 31% of adults experienced at least one of the three conditions examined. A notable trend emerged regarding geographic location: adults residing in nonmetropolitan areas reported a higher percentage of seasonal allergies compared to those in metropolitan areas.
Furthermore, the data indicated a gender disparity in eczema diagnoses. Women were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with eczema (9.5%) than men (5.7%). This suggests potential biological or environmental factors contributing to the difference in prevalence.
Childhood Allergies: Seasonal Allergies Lead the Way
A separate analysis, conducted by Amanda E. Ng, Ph.D., M.P.H., and colleagues at the NCHS, focused on allergic conditions in children aged 0 to 17 years. The research showed that seasonal allergies were the most common allergy among children in 2024, affecting 20.6% of the population. This was followed by eczema (12.7%) and food allergies (5.3%).
Similar to the adult findings, children living in nonmetropolitan areas were more likely to report a diagnosis of seasonal allergy. However, the prevalence of eczema was relatively consistent between boys (12.2%) and girls (13.3%).
A Growing Public Health Challenge
“In 2024, 29.5% of all children had one or more of the three diagnosed allergic conditions examined in this report: seasonal allergy, eczema, and food allergy,” Ng and her team wrote. This statistic underscores the significant impact of allergic diseases on the health and well-being of children in the United States. The increasing prevalence of these conditions warrants further investigation into potential contributing factors, such as environmental changes, dietary habits, and genetic predispositions.
The NCHS data briefs provide valuable insights into the current landscape of allergic diseases in the US, offering a crucial foundation for public health initiatives and clinical interventions.
[Data Brief 1](Link to Data Brief 1)
[Data Brief 2](Link to Data Brief 2)
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