Biology of Asthma and Allergic Disease

Biology of Asthma and Allergic Disease I. ABSTRACT The increasing prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases had inspired various researchers to conduct studies that will help understand the main causes, and solutions to the identified problem. This paper is important in creating a wider and deeper awareness and knowledge of asthma and allergic diseases. The study of the Biology of Asthma and Allergic Diseases intends to show the relationship between the increased prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases, and the hygiene hypothesis. The hygiene hypothesis claims that increasing exposure to dirt helps in creating an immune system that helps lower the incidence of asthma and allergic diseases. In this regard, gathering various studies, evaluating and creating lists of valuable evidences, and intelligently presenting them in this paper will help the public in many ways. First, the readers of this paper will have a better understanding of the biology of asthma and allergic diseases and to adopt possible solutions; second, this paper will pose a challenge to researchers, interested on this topic, to conduct further research studies; and third, various institutions studying this phenomenon may utilize this research to further support their claims. II. INTRODUCTION Asthma and allergic disease pose an increasing threat to humans. According to asthma statistics, there are an estimated 300 million people around the world who suffers from asthma, and 250,000 deaths have been attributed to the disease annually (www.aaaai.org). In the United States, there are an estimated 34.1 million Americans during their lifetime, who have been diagnosed with the asthma disease (www.aaaai.org). What is more disturbing is the fact that, about 70% of people with asthma have allergies as well. The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology estimated that by the year 2025, over 100 million people will have asthma. In a survey conducted in the homes of Americans, it was found out that approximately one quarter had dust mit es allergens in their bed, which is considered high enough level to trigger asthma. Statistics also showed that in 2007, 29% of children who had an allergy to food also had asthma. In fact, asthma was ranked as the third reason for the hospitalization among children under 15 years old (www.aaaai.org). This paper titled Biology of Asthma and Allergic Disease: Hygiene hypothesis explains the biological basis of asthma and allergic diseases and the hygiene hypothesis as its focus area of research. The researcher will also focus on providing a deeper understanding of asthma and allergic disease, in terms of the disease s form, structure, function, growth and development, and behavior. Current researches on the hygiene hypothesis will be presented including the study s aim, methods and results. Moreover, this research paper will explain the value and application of the related research findings to the public health. Likewise, examples will be provided to give the readers with an understa nding of how the presented information can be used in improving the public health policy, programs, and practice. III. RESEARCH The increase cases of asthma and allergic disease around the world have led to various researches and studies of its causes. The International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children in 2003, revealed that countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have the highest prevalence of asthma (Holgate, 2004). The percentage rate of children with asthma in these countries was recorded at 20%, way higher than the recorded asthma patients in Central Africa, Central and Eastern Europe and China, which was less than 5% (Holgate, 2004). The report was confirmed when the European Community Respiratory Health Survey gathered almost similar results on difference of the prevalence on adult asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in intercountry samples (Holgate, 2004). Although the suspected cause of the increased asthma may be genetic, a critical role of the environmental factors in the increased prevalence of asthma and other allergic disease is almost certain (Jarvis & Burney, 2000).