Survey: Allergies get no respect

KENILWORTH, N.J., March 20 (UPI) -- Some 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies, but many feel a stigma and wouldn't call in sick because of allergies, a survey found.

Three separate surveys were conducted by Harris Interactive for Schering-Plough/MERCK Pharmaceuticals of. The surveys involved more than 1,000 consumers including allergy sufferers and non-allergy sufferers; more than 1,000 allergy sufferers only; and 300 physicians.

The survey of consumers found that 78 percent feel sorry for allergy sufferers, about one-third believe allergy sufferers overstate the severity of their symptoms and 30 percent said allergy sufferers use allergies as an excuse to get out of something.

The survey of allergy sufferers found that about half feel their spouse or significant other does not view their allergies to be a serious health condition.

More than 80 percent of allergy sufferers say others do not treat their allergies that seriously. The survey of allergy sufferers found 74 percent believe their doctor views their allergies as a somewhat serious or not serious health condition.

In the survey of physicians, 84 percent said patients do not overstate allergy symptoms. In addition, most physicians view insomnia (83 percent) and osteoarthritis (69 percent) as less serious or equally as serious as allergies.