Allergic conditions: international comparisons

The prevalence of allergic conditions varies widely between countries. There are difficulties making comparisons because of variations in the definitions used, in the demographics of the populations being surveyed and in the completeness and quality of data. However, there is some evidence that allergic conditions are more common in Scotland than in other parts of the UK and that they are, in turn, more common in the UK than other countries, both in Europe and internationally.

Two studies which have collected international data on allergic conditions are the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC Study) and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Details of publications which provide further information on these studies are provided in the useful links section. 

Work from the ISAAC study suggests that, across most countries in recent years, there has been a change in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema in childhood, with increases being twice as common as decreases and occurring more commonly in the younger age-group (age 6-7 years) than the older age-group (age 13-14 years). Further details on this and other related publications are provided in the key references section.