ALLERGY TESTING AND TREATMENTS: ALLERGY TREATMENT NATIONAL SURVEY

A national survey was commissioned by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), to determine awareness of allergy treatment options as part of the College's public education campaign.

· More than one-third (38 percent) of respondents reported having allergies, a figure twice as high as previously estimated.

· Nearly two-thirds (56 percent) of survey respondents reported allergies in one or more members of their household, including themselves.

· The survey found that among households with one or more members with allergies, four-fifths (83 percent) named medications first when considering allergy treatment options. Three-fifths (60 percent) of those in households with allergic family members did not know any allergy treatments besides medications and avoidance.

· Advertisements were the most often named source of information on allergy treatments, cited by 68 percent of survey respondents.

· Among survey respondents who have had allergy shots, 80 percent considered them safe, and 78 percent considered them effective.

· Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of survey respondents with allergies (38 percent of the total sample) have never considered or received allergy shots, a treatment option that can bring permanent relief.

· Among survey respondents with allergies, more than half (54 percent) were willing to consider allergy shots if the treatment would free them from having to take allergy medications.

Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) conducted this random telephone survey June 3 - 6, interviewing 1,004 adults - 502 men and 502 women - 18 years of age and older living in private households in the continental United States. The survey results are projectable to the U.S. population and have a margin of error rate of plus or minus 2 percent - 4 percent.