Over 2 million Australians have currently doctor diagnosed asthma. That’s one in nine Australian children and one in ten adults in our community who have asthma. In Victoria alone there are over 600,000 people with asthma. The prevalence of asthma in Australia is high by international standards.

Asthma is a common reason for hospital admissions in children under 12. In primary school aged children asthma is more common among boys than girls. After teenage years, more women have asthma than men.

Unfortunately, in 2007, 385 people in Australia died from asthma. The risk of dying from asthma increases with age.

People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs. When exposed to certain triggers, their airways narrow, making it hard for them to breathe.

For more detailed information about asthma click here. (link to ‘Asthma the Basics’ and ‘Living with Asthma’ pages following).

Sometimes people experience a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis.

Up to 2% of the general population and up to 5% of children are at risk of anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is extremely serious and is life threatening. Anaphylaxis requires urgent assistance commencing with emergency first aid procedures involving the administration of adrenaline using an auto injecting device.

For more detailed information about anaphylaxis click here (link to ‘Anaphylaxis the Basics’ pages following)
 

About 30% of the Australian population will be affected by allergy at some stage in their lives.

Allergy occurs when a person’s immune system, reacts to substances (known as allergens) in the environment which cause an allergic reaction characterised by redness and swelling, also known as inflammation.

An allergic reaction can occur in: the nose or eyes, such as hay fever (allergic rhinitis) or conjunctivitis; in the skin, eczema or hives; or in the lungs, asthma.

Allergy symptoms can vary from mild causing irritation and discomfort to potentially life threatening.

For more detailed information about allergies - click here.