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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Apr 26.
Published in final edited form as: Allergol Int. 2015 Jul 15;64(4):295–303. doi: 10.1016/j.alit.2015.06.001

Table 5.

Allergy epidemics of the last 100 years.

Date Relevant changes Epidemic
1870–1950 Clean water and helminth eradication
Increase in dairy herds and in the pollen of grass and ragweed		 Seasonal allergy
1955–2000 Onset of indoor lifestyle:

  • Decreased physical activity with prolonged shallow breathing

  • Changes in houses

  • Increased sensitization to mite, cats, etc.

 Pediatric asthma
~1955 Changes in peanut products:

  • Delay or oral exposure to peanut

  • Changes in the skin

  • Changes in vaccination policy

 Peanut allergy
~2005 Increase in tick bites secondary to the rising population of deer
Free access of deer to suburban areas because of leash laws for dogs		 Delayed anaphylaxis to red meat (Alpha-gal)