WAO-White-Book-on-Allergy_March-2011_lo_Final 3-20-11

WORLD ALLERGY ORGANIZATION WAO White Book on Allergy WAO White Book on Allergy World Allergy Organization (WAO) White Book on Allergy Copyright 2011 World Allergy Organization WAO White Book on Allergy Editors Prof Ruby Pawankar, MD, PhD WAO President Elect (2010-2011) Allergy and Rhinology Nippon Medical School 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8603 JAPAN Prof S  tephen T Holgate, BSc, MD, DSc, FMed Sci Member, WAO Board of Directors (2010-2011) Medical Research Council Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology Infection, Inflammation and Immunity School of Medicine University of Southampton Level F, South Block Southampton General Hospital Tremona Road Southampton SO16 6YD United Kingdom Prof Giorgio Walter Canonica, MD WAO Past President (2010-2011) Allergy & Respiratory Diseases Department of Internal Medicine University of Genoa Padiglione Maragliano, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10 1-16132 Genoa ITALY Prof Richard F Lockey, MD WAO President (2010-2011) Division of Allergy & Immunology Joy McCann Culverhouse Chair in Allergy & Immunology University of South Florida College of Medicine James Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center (111D) 13000 Bruce B Downs Boulevard Tampa, Florida 33612 USA Acknowledgement On behalf of the World Allergy Organization (WAO), the editors and authors of the WAO White Book on Allergy express their gratitude to the charity, Asthma, Allergy, Inflammation Research (AAIR) and Asian Allergy Asthma Foundation (AAAF) for their support in the production of this publication The Editors of the White book extend their gratitude to His Excellency Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India and Madame Ilora Finlay Baronness of the House of Lords for their Forewords to the White Book and to the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) and European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients ‘Associations (EFA) for their supporting statements The editors also wish to thank the many experts around the world who have contributed to the completion of this book Both the editors and authors also thank WAO staff members, Charu Malik and Karen Henley, for their editorial assistance, and Sofia Dorsano, for her technical assistance, in preparing the White Book ISBN-10 0615461824 ISBN-13 9780615461823 Copyright 2011 World Allergy Organization (WAO) All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the World Allergy Organization This book is not for sale World Allergy Organization 555 East Wells Street Suite 1100 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 United States of America Phone: +1 414 276 1791 Fax: +1 414 276 3349 Email: info@worldallergy.org Website : www.worldallergy.org Printed in the United Kingdom, 2011 World Allergy Organization (WAO) White Book on Allergy Editors Ruby Pawankar Giorgio Walter Canonica Stephen T Holgate Richard F Lockey Copyright 2011 World Allergy Organization WAO White Book on Allergy Foreword by His Excellency Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India Allergic diseases are increasing worldwide with unprecedented The White Book on Allergy is an important initiative by the complexity and severity Children bear the greatest burden of World Allergy Organization calling on international and national allergic deseases The most common allergic conditions in health care policy makers to address early identification of children are food allergies, eczema, and asthma The precise symptoms, early diagnosis and appropriate strategies to causes of this increase in allergic diseases are not fully understood manage and control allergies to avoid worsening of severe but as the numbers of afflicted people increase, so does the allergic disease to people at risk and to improve practice in research and development, and progress is being made this clinical field of medicine for the benefit of those suffering Allergy should be recognized as a public health problem and efforts should be made towards its prevention and optimal treatment To achieve this, public awareness should be increased and efforts should be made towards proper education from the consequences of allergies I congratulate the World Allergy Organization for initiating this timely and much needed document and wish them all success in its impact and implementation and training for more integrated and holistic approach to the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases HE Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Former, President of India New Delhi, India Copyright 2011 World Allergy Organization