Allergy is an abnormal exaggerated Immunological reaction to substances that are generally considered ‘harmless’ to most of us. The main reason of being allergic is due to the genetic tendency and environmental interaction. Around 20% of the population has this tendency. Allergy can start at any age: even from birth till old age. Generally, allergies are noted in children after 1-2 years of age and they increase as the child grows into teenage, often into adulthood. Persons can get allergic to inhalants (substances in the atmosphere like pollens from plants, trees, shrubs; molds from moisture and warmth; dust mite, microscopic indoor insect, foods, insect venoms: bees). One had to wait almost 5 years to identify 10 cases of allergic disorder 75 years ago. At present, you need not wait even 5 minutes to identify a dozen persons with allergies. Two major global studies done recently showed that the prevalence of allergies and asthma are definitely on the rise both in developed and developing countries including India. A study done by Dr. P.A. Mahesh and group in schools of Mysuru showed a 10% increase in prevalence of allergies every year over a period of 5 years. The author, Dr. P.K. Vedanthan, a native of Mysuru, graduate of Mysore Medical College, has lived in USA for the past 45 years. He has specialised in allergy, asthma and Immunological diseases. During his yearly visit to his family in the early 80s, he found that there was a total lack of available care for asthma and allergic patients in India. This lead to form an organisation named ‘International Asthma Services’ (IAS), a registered charitable institution in Colorado, USA in 1992.
By Dr. P.K. Vedanthan
