Allergic diseases – like allergies, asthma, and eczema – are related. If your child has food allergies, they may also have other allergic diseases, including nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis) or allergic asthma. This is all thanks to the "allergic march" or “atopic march.”

About 19% of children in the U.S. have seasonal allergic rhinitis.^1,2 And most kids with asthma have allergic asthma. This type of asthma is triggered by allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and cockroaches. If you have a child with food allergies, you’ll need to know about managing seasonal allergies.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released the 2023 Allergy Capitals report. This report ranks the top 100 most challenging cities in the continental United States to live with seasonal pollen allergies.

The report looks at these important factors:

• Tree, grass, and weed pollen scores
• Over-the-counter allergy medicine use
• Availability of board-certified allergists/immunologists

This year, Wichita, Kansas, is the top Allergy Capital. This year’s report also highlights three topics related to seasonal pollen allergies:

• Self-care for seasonal allergies
• Climate change and worsening pollen seasons
• The importance of pollen sensors across the United States

“Managing pollen allergies is possible,” says Dr. Neeta Ogden, allergist and spokesperson for AAFA. “While it is best to avoid pollen allergy triggers, that may not always be possible, as this report makes clear. Working with a specialist can offer you solutions to improve your quality of life. It is important to consult with your allergist about your symptoms so you can devise a treatment plan that best helps you manage them. Allergy testing is also a way to better understand your allergy triggers and, therefore, better manage them.”

If your child has seasonal pollen allergy symptoms, talk with their allergist about testing and a treatment plan. Treating seasonal pollen allergies can help improve the quality of life for your child.

To see where your city ranks and for ways to manage seasonal pollen allergies, visit allergycapitals.com.

The 2023 Allergy Capitals report is an independent research project of AAFA and is made possible by a research support grant from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.