Today marks the start of the World Allergy Organization’s (WAO) annual World Allergy Week.
During the 2013 event, WAO together with its 93 national Member Societies, will be addressing the topic of “Food Allergy – A Rising Global Health Problem,” and its growing burden on children.
Globally, it’s estimated that as many as 220-250 million people suffer from food allergy. And the incidence is on the rise in both developed and developing countries, especially in children.
During World Allergy Week WAO plans to highlight the need for greater awareness and understanding of food allergy as well as the exchange of ideas and collaboration in order to address a variety of safety and quality-of-life issues related to the care of patients with food sensitivity.
According to Professor Ruby Pawankar, President of the World Allergy Organization, “There are problems that need to be addressed in many countries throughout the world such as the lack of awareness of food allergies, lack of standardized national anaphylaxis action plans for food allergy, limited or no access to epinephrine auto-injectors, and the lack of food labeling laws. Moreover, some countries have standardized action plans but no ready access to auto-injectors; while others have auto-injectors but no standardized action plans.”
An important part of the initiative of World Allergy Week 2013 is to advocate for the safety and quality of life of patients who suffer from food hypersensitivity. WAO has also produced a list of online food allergy resources for healthcare professionals and patients / caregivers, which we have reproduced below.
HEALTHCARE RESOURCES
Kids Teased about Food Allergies No Laughing Matter
WAO White Book on Allergy
Food Allergy: Pathogenesis and Prevention
World Allergy Forum, December 2012, Orlando, Florida, USA
Access the presentations
Food Allergy
Cassim Motala, Joaquín Sastre, Dolores Ibáñez
WAO Global Resources in Allergy (GLORIA™), 2009, updated 2011
Access slide deck
Cow’s Milk Allergy in Children
Access the summary
Anaphylaxis
Richard F. Lockey, September 2012, updated Disease Summary
WAO Diagnosis and Rationale for Action against Cow’s Milk Allergy (DRACMA) Guidelines
Access the article
ICON: Food Allergy
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2012; 129(4): 906-920
Access the article
World Allergy Organization Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of Anaphylaxis
World Allergy Organization Journal, 4:13-37, February 2011
Access the article
PATIENT / CAREGIVER RESOURCES
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
The FARE website has an abundant source of valuable resources specifically for patients suffering from food allergies and the people who care for them, including:
- Resources for the Newly Diagnosed
- Resources for Parents of Children with Food Allergies
- Resources for Schools
- Resources for Healthcare Providers
- For Investigators Conducting Food Allergy Research
Anaphylaxis Campaign
The Anaphylaxis Campaign is a UK charity catering exclusively to the needs of people at risk from anaphylaxis by providing information and support relating to foods and other triggers such as latex, drugs and insect stings.
The AllergyWise online programs provide training for families, carers and individuals as well as health professionals. General information on Anaphylaxis and Severe Allergy
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