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

Agnes Sze Yin Leung, MRCPCH; Ruby Pawankar, MD; Punchama Pacharn, MD; Lydia Su Yin Wong, MRCPCH; Duy Le Pham, MD; Grace Chan, MD; Iris Rengganis, MD; Jing Zhao, MD; Jiu Yao Wang, MD; Kent Chee-Keen Woo, MD; Komei Ito, MD; Kyunguk Jeong, MD; Marysia Recto, MD; Michaela Lucas, MD; Mizuho Nagao, MD; Rommel Crisenio M. Lobo, MD; Sonomjamts Munkhbayarlakh, MD; Sumadiono Sumadiono, MD; Syed Rezaul Huq, MD; Thushali Ranasinghe, MBBS; Mimi Tang, MBBS, PhD

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global (May 2024)

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

Agnes Sze Yin Leung, MRCPCH,
Ruby Pawankar, MD,
Punchama Pacharn, MD,
Lydia Su Yin Wong, MRCPCH,
Duy Le Pham, MD,
Grace Chan, MD,
Iris Rengganis, MD,
Jing Zhao, MD,
Jiu Yao Wang, MD,
Kent Chee-Keen Woo, MD,
Komei Ito, MD,
Kyunguk Jeong, MD,
Marysia Recto, MD,
Michaela Lucas, MD,
Mizuho Nagao, MD,
Rommel Crisenio M. Lobo, MD,
Sonomjamts Munkhbayarlakh, MD,
Sumadiono Sumadiono, MD,
Syed Rezaul Huq, MD,
Thushali Ranasinghe, MBBS,
Mimi Tang, MBBS, PhD

Affiliations

Agnes Sze Yin Leung, MRCPCH: Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong Hub of Paediatric Excellence, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Corresponding author: Agnes Sze-yin Leung, MRCPCH, Department of Paediatrics, 6/F Lui Che Woo Clinical Sciences Building, Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, HKSAR.
Ruby Pawankar, MD: Division of Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan; Ruby Pawankar, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5, Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Punchama Pacharn, MD: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Lydia Su Yin Wong, MRCPCH: 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
Duy Le Pham, MD: University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Grace Chan, MD: Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
Iris Rengganis, MD: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
Jing Zhao, MD: Capital Institute of Pediatrics in China, Beijing, China
Jiu Yao Wang, MD: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
Kent Chee-Keen Woo, MD: Gleneagles Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Komei Ito, MD: Allergy and Immunology Center, Aichi Children's Health And Medical Center, Aichi, Japan
Kyunguk Jeong, MD: Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
Marysia Recto, MD: Division of Adult and Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
Michaela Lucas, MD: WA Health and University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Mizuho Nagao, MD: National Hospital Organization Mie National Hospital, Tsu, Japan
Rommel Crisenio M. Lobo, MD: Fe del Mundo Medical Center, Metro Manila, Manila, Philippines
Sonomjamts Munkhbayarlakh, MD: Department of Pulmonology and Allergology, School of Medicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Sumadiono Sumadiono, MD: Department of Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Syed Rezaul Huq, MD: National Institute of the Chest Disease and Hospital NIDCH Mohakhali, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Thushali Ranasinghe, MBBS: Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
Mimi Tang, MBBS, PhD: Allergy Immunology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Department of Allergy and Immunology, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 2
p. 100202

Abstract

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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.

Published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global

ISSN: 2772-8293 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Immunologic diseases. Allergy
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-allergy-and-clinical-immunology-global

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