More than 50 million Americans report having allergic reactions every year, according to data from the CDC. Allergies are regarded as the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S., and cost more than $18 billion.
In scientific terms, an allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, such as peanuts or cat dander. White blood cells that defend our body from foreign invaders go into overdrive when they encounter a type of antibody known as Immunoglobulin E (IgE). The result is an extreme inflammatory response that might include difficulty breathing, vomiting, itchy eyes or ears, or a rash. If the allergic reaction is severe enough, a person can go into what’s called anaphylaxis, where the allergic reaction happens in a matter of seconds or minutes. When this happens, the immune system floods a body with chemicals that cause blood pressure to drop and airways to close up. In other words, your body goes into shock that can result in death if the symptoms aren't treated immediately.
Of the many sources of allergens, allergic reactions to food are among the most common—and the most costly, with an economic burden estimated by researchers reporting in the Journal of the American Medical Associationto be $4,184 per child annually (around $25 billion). Between 2007 and 2016, diagnosed anaphylactic food reactions on private insurance claim lines climbed by a shocking 377%, according to a 2017 report from FAIR Health. To find out more about allergies, Stacker curated a gallery of 25 interesting food allergy facts from scientific, and government reports as well as academic research papers and reputable news sources.
From getting someone else’s food allergy to hi-tech plates that can detect allergens in your dinner, keep reading to find out more about food allergies and how people cope.