There is hardly any health problem that has attracted as much attention over the past decade as allergies. Neurodermatitis, food allergies, allergic asthma or hay fever do not result in a higher mortality risk. Nonetheless, allergic reactions, for example, to basic foodstuffs like cow’s milk, hen’s eggs, nuts and vegetables, or allergic illnesses of the respiratory tract substantially reduce our fellow citizens’ quality of life and their productivity. Findings such as "Allergies cause expenses of DM 6.9 billion every year" or "Every third occupational disease induced by allergies" speak for themselves.

Results from a multitude of countries furthermore suggest that allergic disorders have spread considerably within the last few decades. When every third German citizen reacts to allergens, it has to be assumed that every citizen either suffers from an allergy or at least knows someone who does.

Yet, the topic of the present Special Report was selected not only for reasons of contents, but also for a methodological reason:

The frequency, the causes and effects of allergies were already set out in the 1998 Health Report for Germany. Due to the great variety of subjects discussed, however, that report could provide readers with no more than a few pages of condensed information on the disease. Special reports, on the other hand, are intended to deal exhaustively with subjects bearing relevance on health. In this respect, the present prototype of such a special report is designed to supplement, enhance and update the information given on allergies in the Health Report.

In the course of routine reporting by the Robert Koch-Institute, further special reports are to follow this first one. In addition to the Health Report for Germany and its updates, and together with the information system that is available on the internet at www.gbe-bund.de, the special reports will constitute an essential tool of the health monitoring of the Federation.

The subject of the present report was chosen as early as in 1996 during the set-up phase of the health monitoring of the Federation, which has been promoted by both the Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the Federal Ministry for Health. The Scientific Advisory Council and the Working Group on "Health Monitoring" accompanied the project’s implementation of which the Federal Statistical Office was in charge. We should like to thank the authors, specialist consultants and all others who contributed to the successful completion of this Report.

The Special Report "Allergies" summarises all the information available in 1998 on the frequency, risk factors, preventive strategies, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and costs of the disease. Moreover, it clearly calls for better data and more research into the causes and therapies.

We hope that the report will meet with lively interest as well as animate and support the discussion on allergic symptoms and disorders in Germany by providing pertinent facts and data.