African-American children are the worst hit by asthma. They experience a higher rate of death from asthma attacks, more than four times the rate of white children.
Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States.
More than 22 million Americans have allergic rhinitis or hay fever. These allergies are not always taken seriously. In fact, more than half of all allergy sufferers fail to recognize their symptoms at first, falsely believing they have a cold or the flu. Some people consider them a nuisance when in fact they are a serious disorder, especially in children. Asthma and Allergies Impair a Child's Quality of Life.