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Table 1 The economic burden of allergy

From: Allergic diseases and asthma: a global public health concern and a call to action

Country

Year costs calculated

Population (2010)

Disease

Direct costs*

Indirect costs**

Total costs estimated

Australia

2007

23 million

All allergies

A$ 1.1 billion

A$ 8.3 billion

A$ 9.4 billion

Finland

2005

5.3 million

All allergies

€468 million

€51.7 million

€519.7 million

South Korea

2005

50 million

Asthma

-

-

US$1.78 billion

   

Allergic Rhinitis

  

US$266 million

Israel

 

7.5 million

Asthma

-

-

US$250 million

Mexico

2007

103 million

Asthma

  

US$35 million

USA

2007

310.2 million

Asthma

US$14.7 billion

US$5 billion

US$19.7 billion

 

2005

 

Allergic Rhinitis

US$11.2 billion

Up tp US$ 9.7 billion

Up to $20.9 billion

  1. A few global facts and figures for two common allergic diseases: asthma and rhinitis.
  2. *Direct costs: Expenditure on medications and health care provision.
  3. **Indirect costs: Cost to society from loss of work, social support, loss of taxation income, home modifications, lower productivity at work, etc.
  4. Extracted from Ref [1]. Pawankar R et al.