Immediate-type allergy: Rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, anaphylaxis

Abstract

Immediate-type allergies have increased significantly in frequency in the last decades of the twentieth century, but the causes of this have ultimately not been clarified. The following prevalence, moderately estimated, can be expected in industrialized countries: anaphylaxis 0.5-2%, bronchial asthma 5-10%, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis 10-20%. Allergies manifest in numerous organs. Skin and mucous membranes are particularly frequently affected, as they represent interfaces at which the individual organism is confronted with its environment.