Diagnosed Allergic Conditions Among Children Ages 0−17 Years: United States, 2024

NCHS Data Brief No. 546, January 8, 2026

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Amanda E. Ng, Ph.D., M.P.H., Abhigya Giri, M.P.H., and Lauren Bottoms-McClain, M.P.H.

Introduction

The prevalence of the major allergic conditions in children-seasonal allergy, eczema, and food allergy-has increased over the last several decades (1-3). Seasonal allergies include hay fever and allergic conjunctivitis and are associated with sneezing, cough, runny nose, and itchy eyes. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, may cause itchy, bumpy rashes. On exposure to triggering foods, food allergies can lead to symptoms including hives, vomiting, trouble breathing, or throat tightening. Allergy symptoms are associated with lower quality of life, anxiety, and depression (4-6).

Data from the 2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed to provide estimates of diagnosed seasonal allergy, eczema, and food allergy by age, sex, and urbanization level.

Diagnosed allergic conditions

• In 2024, 29.5% of children had a diagnosed seasonal allergy (subsequently, seasonal allergy), diagnosed eczema (subsequently, eczema), or diagnosed food allergy (subsequently, food allergy) (Figure 1, Table 1).
• One in five children had a seasonal allergy (20.6%). Just over 1 in 10 had eczema (12.7%), and 1 in 20 had a food allergy (5.3%).

Diagnosed seasonal allergy

• The percentage of boys with a seasonal allergy (21.3%) was similar to the percentage of girls with a seasonal allergy (19.8%) (Figure 2, Table 2).
• Children ages 6-11 (25.0%) and 12-17 (24.0%) were more likely to have a seasonal allergy compared with children ages 0-5 (11.6%).
• Children living in nonmetropolitan areas (25.6%) were more likely to have a seasonal allergy compared with children living in metropolitan areas (19.8%).

Diagnosed eczema

• The percentage of children with eczema was similar in girls (13.3%) and boys (12.2%) (Figure 3, Table 3).
• The observed differences in the percentages of children with eczema by age (12.7% in children ages 0-5, 14.0% in children 6-11, and 11.6% in children 12-17) were not significant.
• The percentage of children with eczema was similar between those living in metropolitan areas (12.8%) and those living in nonmetropolitan areas (12.5%).

Diagnosed food allergy

• Boys were more likely to have a food allergy (5.9%) compared with girls (4.7%) (Figure 4, Table 4).
• The percentage of children with a food allergy increased with age, from 3.9% in children ages 0-5 to 5.0% in children 6-11 to 6.9% in children 12-17.
• Children living in metropolitan areas had a similar likelihood of having a food allergy (5.4%) compared with children living in nonmetropolitan areas (5.1%).

Summary

In 2024, 29.5% of all children had one or more of the three diagnosed allergic conditions examined in this report: seasonal allergy, eczema, and food allergy. The prevalence of seasonal allergy was highest among these conditions (20.6%), followed by eczema (12.7%), and food allergy (5.3%). Differences in the prevalence of seasonal allergy and food allergy varied by age group. No significant differences were observed by sex for seasonal allergy or eczema. The percentage of children with a seasonal allergy was significantly lower in metropolitan areas compared with nonmetropolitan areas. No differences by urbanization level were seen for the prevalence of eczema or food allergy.

Definitions

Any allergic condition: Children were considered to have any allergic condition if they were diagnosed with one or more of three selected conditions: seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy.

Eczema: Based on a positive response to both survey questions, "Does [Sample Child] get an itchy rash due to eczema or atopic dermatitis?" and "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that [Sample Child] had eczema or atopic dermatitis?"

Food allergy: Based on a positive response to both survey questions, "Does [Sample Child] have an allergy to one or more foods?" and "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that [Sample Child] had an allergy to one or more foods?"

Seasonal allergy: Based on a positive response to both survey questions, "Does [Sample Child] get symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, or itchy or watery eyes due to hay fever, seasonal, or year-round allergies?" and "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that [Sample Child] had hay fever, seasonal or year-round allergies?"

Urbanization level: Urbanization level was divided into two categories using the 2023 NCHS Urban-Rural Classification Scheme for Counties (7): metropolitan (large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, and medium and small metropolitan counties) and nonmetropolitan (counties in micropolitan statistical areas and nonmetropolitan counties).

Data source and methods

Data from the 2024 NHIS were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are typically initiated face-to-face in respondents' homes with follow-ups conducted by telephone as needed (8). For more information on the survey, visit the NHIS website: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/index.htm.

Point estimates and corresponding confidence intervals for this analysis were calculated using SAS-callable SUDAAN software (9) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. All estimates are based on self-report and meet NCHS data presentation standards for proportions (10). Differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. Linear and quadratic trends by age were evaluated using orthogonal polynomials.

About the authors

Amanda E. Ng, Abhigya Giri, and Lauren Bottoms-McClain are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.

References

1. Jackson KD, Howie LD, Akinbami LJ. Trends in allergic conditions among children: United States, 1997-2011. NCHS Data Brief. 2013 May;(121):1-8. PMID: 23742874. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db121.htm.
2. Keet CA, Savage JH, Seopaul S, Peng RD, Wood RA, Matsui EC. Temporal trends and racial/ethnic disparity in self-reported pediatric food allergy in the United States. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Mar;112(3):222-9. PMID: 24428971. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2013.12.007.
3. Hill DA, Spergel JM. The atopic march: Critical evidence and clinical relevance. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018 Feb;120(2):131-7. PMID: 29413336. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.037.
4. Blaiss MS, Hammerby E, Robinson S, Kennedy-Martin T, Buchs S. The burden of allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on adolescents: A literature review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018 Jul;121(1):43-52. PMID: 29626629. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2018.03.028..
5. Golding MA, Batac ALR, Gunnarsson NV, Ahlstedt S, Middelveld R, Protudjer JL. The burden of food allergy on children and teens: A systematic review. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2022 Mar;33(3):e13743.
6. Valero-Moreno S, Torres-Llanos R, Pérez-Marín M. Impact of childhood food allergy on quality of life: A systematic review. Appl Sci. 2024 Nov;14(23):10989. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310989.
7. National Center for Health Statistics. NCHS urban-rural classification scheme for counties. 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data-analysis-tools/urban-rural.html.
8. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey: 2024 survey description. 2025 Jul. Available from: https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Dataset_Documentation/NHIS/2024/srvydesc-508.pdf.
9. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.3) [computer software]. 2018.
10. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez JF Jr, et al. National Center for Health Statistics data presentation standards for proportions. Vital Health Stat 2. 2017 Aug;(175):1-22.

Suggested citation

Ng AE, Giri A, Bottoms-McClain L. Diagnosed allergic conditions in children ages 0-17: United States, 2024. NCHS Data Brief. 2026 Jan;(546):1-10. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174635.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics
Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Director
Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director for Science