Allergy has developed into a major health concern in Europe with over 80 million people affected by some form of allergic disease and around 30 million people with suffering from asthma. Allergic diseases can currently be managed effectively but not cured. Although seldom lethal, they diminish patients’ quality of life and have considerable socio-economic costs, such as health care utilization, medication, and school or work days’ missed.

Why "global" diseases?

More and more people are developing allergic diseases and it is estimated that, by 2015, one in two Europeans is likely to suffer from at least one form of allergy. However, allergic diseases are still underestimated, under-diagnosed and often do not receive adequate treatment. Allergy and asthma are “global” diseases not only because they are rapidly developing all over the world but also because they affect the body as a whole.

Major efforts are still needed in research to understand allergy and its complex mechanisms. They will include multidisciplinary studies of contributing factors (from genetics to environment), different expressions of the diseases (in the nose, lungs, skin and so on) and treatment – both for prevention and cure.

Allergy factors and the allergic march

An allergy is an exaggerated reaction by the patient’s immune system to an allergen that triggers different reactions in different organs. Allergens are usually proteins, the most common are present in grass, pollens, moulds, pets’ fur and food.

Different expressions of allergic disorders include allergic rhinitis - hay fever -, asthma, atopic dermatitis - eczema - and other skin complaints, conjunctivitis - irritation of the eye -, food and drug hypersensitivities, and anaphylactic shock - for example, in reaction to a peanut allergy.

Although allergic diseases can arise at any age, they generally begin in childhood. The most frequent presentation is dermatitis in infants. The development of this “atopic” condition is associated with an allergic constitution due to heredity or genetics, or to the environment, for instance indoor and outdoor pollution. The disease often progresses from atopic dermatitis to allergic rhinitis and then to asthma. This evolution, known as “allergy march”, needs to be carefully followed and treated. Because allergic diseases require that the health care system ensures regular follow-up, the problem of diagnosis and treatment compliance by health professionals arises. As some allergic diseases can be risk factors for further allergic reactions and asthma, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial.

Where are the reseach needs?