Many of us are all too familiar with the symptoms -- a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchy irritated eyes. These are just a few of the signs of allergic rhinitis, or sensitivity to airborne allergens. As the most common form of allergic disease, allergic rhinitis affects 10-20% of adults in the United States, and up to 40% of children. The estimated costs for treating this chronic condition run as high as $6 billion each year.
Many people seek medical care for coughs, and this care is very costly. Acute bronchitis is among the 10 most common diagnoses made by US physicians, accounting for 10 million office visits every year. In addition, more than 14 million cases of chronic bronchitis are reported annually, and 3,000 deaths are attributed to this serious condition. A recent cost analysis estimated that expenditures for bronchitis treatment now exceed $3 billion per year.