While the autumn breeze has sent a few hints of coolness, it has also blown many people to “pins and needles” and they have flocked to the allergy departments of major hospitals. It turns out that autumn is a period of high allergy prevalence, the autumn breeze brings tree dust, a variety of harvested food have become the most common allergens. ”Allergy has always been a common disease, with different causes and different onset. But surveys show that the improvement in living conditions has in turn led to an increase in the number of allergic people. In the next 10 years, allergic diseases in China may increase by leaps and bounds. Food allergy will become the major allergy You have said that “allergic diseases are the epidemic of the new century”. What are the new changes in allergic diseases in recent years? Yin Jia: Allergic diseases include allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and food allergies. The biggest change in their onset is that their incidence is increasing globally, with a significant increase in infants and adolescents. The World Allergy Organization reports that 30% to 40% of the general population worldwide is afflicted by allergy problems. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, with more than 50% of adults and at least 80% of children affected being triggered by allergic factors, and more than 250,000 people die from asthma each year. Another major change is the marked increase in food allergies and anaphylaxis, a trend that has been confirmed by numerous studies in the West. Surveys in Europe and the United States have confirmed that the incidence of anaphylaxis has increased more than any other allergic disease in recent years. What is the incidence of allergic diseases in China and what are the new trends? Yin Jia: There are no epidemiological data on anaphylaxis based on the general population in China, and only a few data for some populations. From 1990 to the present, Professor Chen Yuzhi of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics has done three epidemiological studies on the incidence of asthma in children aged 13 to 14 years, which confirmed that the incidence of asthma in children in China is increasing year by year. At present, we have completed the first national general population epidemiological survey of 9 allergic diseases, involving 130,000 people in 19 provinces and cities. We will publish the study reports when they are available. In terms of incidence trends, China does have its own characteristics. First, the incidence rate may increase faster than some developed countries in the next 10 years. We have communicated with our counterparts in Japan and Korea, and they said, “You are going through the same process we did 10 years ago.” The incidence of allergic diseases in China may be the same as in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and other economically developed regions, which are about to experience or are experiencing a “surge” in food allergies, eczema and other allergic diseases. Secondly, food allergy will become the mainstream of allergy and the main cause of severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, which will also become a new challenge for clinicians in China. Third, allergies caused or aggravated by environmental pollution are increasing. During haze, there are many floating particles in the air, which will increase the residence time of mold, pollen and other allergens in the air and increase the chances of exposure and sensitization. Many people ask, “Life is getting cleaner, why are allergies increasing instead? Yin Jia: “The cleaner the better” is a serious misconception, and this idea is not conducive to allergy prevention. Many people don’t know that allergic diseases have two distinct characteristics. First, it is a “civilized disease”. Modern life is full of all kinds of disinfectants, cleaners, hair dyes, cosmetics, and so on. Parents try to create a “germ-free” world for their children by giving them many vaccinations from an early age and treating them with various antibiotics for the slightest fever; to prevent respiratory infections, children are often kept indoors and have little contact with soil, plants and trees. Under the condition of being too clean and having little contact with nature, the human immune system does not get enough stimulation, so it is difficult to be activated, and thus the resistance to bacteria is low and easy to be allergic. Secondly, it is a “rich disease”. More than 100 years ago, some scholars in the United States said that allergy is a disease of affluence, a punishment for the enjoyment class. From the conclusion of the study, the incidence of allergy is higher in urban areas than in rural areas, higher among people who spend a lot of time indoors than those who love to be outdoors, and higher among people with high income than those with low income. Food and drugs are most likely to induce severe allergies What are the main allergens that cause allergies in the country? Yin Jia: Food, drugs, pollen, dust mites, molds, pets, etc. can all be allergens. Commonly, milk, eggs, cereals, beef and mutton, seafood, fruits, nuts and vegetables can easily lead to food allergy, and injections of penicillin and allogeneic serum can easily induce drug allergy. Various types of cosmetics, hair dyes, organic solvents, etc. are also important contact allergens. It is important to note that drugs and food are the most likely allergens to cause anaphylaxis, which can even be rapidly fatal, because the instantaneous overreaction may lead to laryngeal edema and asphyxiation. Pollen, dust mite, mold and pet allergies mostly manifest as respiratory symptoms, such as frequent sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, breath-holding and asthma attacks, which are less life-threatening but seriously affect life. Many asthma patients are unable to sleep flat, and some need repeated hospitalization. What are the differences in allergens in China compared to developed countries in Europe and the United States? Yin Jia: The differences are great, and allergic diseases are highly geographic in nature. Peanuts are the main food causing anaphylaxis in the U.S., but relatively few in China, where the number of allergy cases due to certain fruits, high-protein foods or recessive allergen foods has increased significantly. In terms of pollen allergy, the United States is dominated by ragweed and Europe is dominated by pasture. Pollen allergy within China also has a clear geographic pattern, with Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Shaanxi and Shanxi dominated by artemisia, while some places are dominated by grasses. Artemisia and grass pollen are one of the major causes of severe asthma attacks in the fall in the northern part of China. Your team has been doing research on anaphylaxis, what are the findings? Yin Jia: In many developed countries, the incidence of anaphylaxis is higher in children than in adults, but our study found that it is higher in adults than in children in China, and the reasons behind this we are trying to explore. During the study, we also found some interesting phenomena, for example, we reported for the first time several cases of eating red meat after a tick bite in China, which induced severe allergy, and published in the Chinese Journal of Clinical Immunity and Allergic Reactions. In addition, there are many unique Chinese foods and seasonings that become food allergens different from those in Western countries. Expose children to more nature What are the main ways to treat allergies? What can be done to prevent them in life? Yin Jia: In terms of treatment, first, finding the right allergen is the most crucial. If you have allergy symptoms, it is best to do allergen skin tests and serum specific IgE tests to “find” the allergen and avoid or reduce exposure. Currently, there is some chaos in allergen testing, so it is recommended that you go to a regular hospital for testing. Second, desensitization treatment. People who are allergic to pollen, mold, mites, pets, etc., can undergo desensitization therapy, which refers to making preparations of allergic substances in small to large doses and injecting them subcutaneously several times to make the body tolerant to the substance. In addition, patients with a history of severe allergies should carry with them “life-saving medications” such as epinephrine medications and injection devices. In life, parents are advised to expose their children to nature. If possible, have a kitten or puppy to grow up with your child. It is best to use less disinfectants and cleaners in the home.