National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1998--2009: Percentage of Children Aged less than 18 Years with Reported Food, Skin, or Hay Fever or Respiratory Allergies

I am copying the image and wording directly from the CDC’s website.  Households were randomly contacted and asked three questions: “During the past 12 months, has your child had any kind of food or digestive allergy?” and “During the past 12 months, has your child had eczema or any kind of skin allergy?” and a positive response to either “During the past 12 months, has your child had hay fever?” or “During the past 12 months, has your child had any kind of respiratory allergy?”

“From 1998–2000 to 2007–2009, the percentage of children who were reported to have a food allergy during the preceding 12 months increased from 3.5% to 4.6%, and the percentage who were reported to have a skin allergy increased from 7.3% to 10.7%. The percentage of children reported to have hay fever and/or respiratory allergy was 16.6% during 2007–2009, a level that did not differ substantially from earlier years.”   Food and skin allergies are increasing.