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Perspectives and gaps in the management of food allergy and anaphylaxis in the Asia-Pacific Region

Leung ASY 1 , Pawankar R 2 , Pacharn P 3 , Wong LSY 4 , Le Pham D 5 , Chan G 6 Show all authors , Rengganis I 7 , Zhao J 8 , Wang JY 9 , Woo KC 10 , Ito K 11 , Jeong K 12 , Recto M 13 , Lucas M 14 , Nagao M 15 , Lobo RCM 16 , Munkhbayarlakh S 17 , Sumadiono S 18 , Huq SR 19 , Ranasinghe T 20 , Tang M 21 , Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology food allergy and anaphylaxis and junior member committees

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  • 2 Division of Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
  • 3 Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 4 Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • 5 University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
  • 6 Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • 7 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
  • 8 Capital Institute of Pediatrics in China, Beijing, China
  • 9 Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
  • 10 Gleneagles Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 11 Allergy and Immunology Center, Aichi Children's Health And Medical Center, Aichi, Japan
  • 12 Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
  • 13 Division of Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
  • 14 WA Health and University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
  • 15 National Hospital Organization Mie National Hospital, Tsu, Japan
  • 16 Fe del Mundo Medical Center, Metro Manila, Manila, Philippines
  • 17 Department of Pulmonology and Allergology, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
  • 18 Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • 19 National Institute of the Chest Disease and Hospital NIDCH Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • 20 Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
  • 21 Allergy Immunology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Department of Allergy and Immunology, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
J Allergy Clin Immunol Glob, 2024 May;3(2):100202.
PMID: 38283085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100202

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern; however, little is known about how FAs are currently managed in the Asia-Pacific region.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the epidemiology of FA, as well as the availability of resources and practices for management of FA and anaphylaxis by health care providers across Asia.

METHODS: From June 2022 to September 2022, a questionnaire-based survey comprising 66 questions was electronically sent to member societies of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology by using Survey Monkey.

RESULTS: A total of 20 responses were received from 15 member countries and territories. Compared with the pediatric data, there was a lack of prevalence data for FA in adults. Except for Australia and Japan, most regions had between 0.1 and 0.5 allergists per 100,000 population and some had fewer than 0.1 allergists per 100,000 population. The perceived rate of FA in regions with a short supply of allergists was high. Although specific IgE tests and oral food challenges were available in all regions, the median wait time for oral food challenges at government facilities was 37 days (interquartile range = 10.5-60 days). Seven regions still relied on prescriptions of ampules and syringes of injectable adrenaline, and adrenaline autoinjectors were not accessible in 4 regions. Oral immunotherapy as FA treatment was available in half of the surveyed countries and territories.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study offers a cross-sectional evaluation of the management practices for FA in each Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology member country or territory. Urgent actions are required to enhance allergy services, improve the accessibility and affordability of adrenaline autoinjectors, and conduct robust epidemiologic studies.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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