In addition to producing chronic respiratory problems, allergy interferes with normal growth and development, may cause physical disability and poses substantial social and economic burdens, the latter of which has been estimated in the U.S. to exceed $4.5 billion a year for rhinitis alone.*

Early diagnosis and treatment of the allergic patient has been shown to modify the course of the disease and prevent subsequent development of other conditions such as asthma. The Expert Panel Report 2 funded by the National Institutes of Health, states that the genetic state of hyper-responsiveness to allergens, also known as "atopy", is the strongest identifiable predisposing factor for the development of asthma.** Chronic allergy-mediated inflammation and associated infections can cause mucosal damage and lung remodeling that can ultimately lead to asthma. Further, it has been hypothesized that allergic sensitization at a young age results in a state of chronic airway inflammation, increasing the child's susceptibility to nasal and ear infections.