Effect of ethnicity on the prevalence of allergic disease

ABSTRACT

Differences in the prevalence and severity of allergic diseases exist among racial and ethnic groups. However, influence of population admixing on allergic disease has not been studied. This review aimed to review studies in the literature which examined the difference in the prevalence and severity of allergic disease among populations with different ancestry and to discuss the effect of population admixing on the occurrence and severity of allergic disease. Several studies have shown that the prevalence and severity of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were different according to ethnicity. However, there have been only a few studies evaluating the effect of population admixing on allergic disease. Ethnicity and environmental effect should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease.