Allergy 'epidemic'
ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the warning from a committee of peers over the "rapid increase" in allergies.
The peers called for increased funding for what they described as an "epidemic," and have recommended setting up a network of specialised centres to tackle the problem.
Stakeholder response: The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health
To send a comment to The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health, click here
Kim Lavely, chief executive of the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, said: "One in three people in the UK suffers from allergy; one in 50 children have nut allergy and admissions for potentially fatal anaphylaxis have risen seven-fold in the past 10 years.
"It is no exaggeration to say that the incidence of allergy in the UK and in other developed countries has reached epidemic proportions and we urgently need more research to help us understand why.
"Many health academics and clinicians believe that the vast increase in the number of cases of allergies such as asthma, rhinitis, eczema, drug and insect allergy, and anaphylaxis reflects changes in the environment affecting us in the first five or so years of life, which are the most crucial period for the development of a robust immune system.
"The House of Lords report's recommendation to the Department of Health that they immediately withdraw advice to pregnant women and very young children to avoid peanuts shows how little we understand about what causes allergy and about how to minimise the risk of developing allergies it seems that this earlier government advice might actually have been increasing the prevalence of nut allergy, rather than helping the situation.
"What we need is investment into research particularly the effects of the environment on human health.
"We need to look at the impact of factors like air quality, pollution, chemicals in everyday products and pesticides in the food chain.
"The Medical Research Council is due to undertake a review of clinical immunology shortly and we would urge them to make the study of environmental influences on allergy a high priority
"But we also need a joined-up approach bringing together key bodies such as the Food Standards Agency, the Health Protection Agency, the Commission on Environmental Pollution, the Environment Agency, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the farming community to look at the role that chemicals and pesticides play in the development of allergy.
"The House of Lords report makes important recommendations about how we can improve treatment of the symptoms of allergy, but we must make understanding the causes of allergy an equal priority so that we can halt this epidemic which insidiously undermines the quality of life of millions of people ."
Stakeholder response:
To send a comment to The Royal College of Physicians, click here
The RCP said: "The Royal College of Physicians welcomes the recognition by the House of Lords of the key role of allergy specialists in providing a comprehensive network of expert services, and the important role of many of its physician specialties in providing the best care for patients with allergic diseases.
"Despite the conclusions of the College's own 2003 report, the DH Review of Allergy services and two independent reviews that provision of services for allergy is patchy and inadequate in the UK, there remains little
central funding, and few drivers to support the rapid development of a comprehensive network of specialist centres.
"A post code lottery prevails. The college continues to work to facilitate networking and agreed models of care through its intercollegiate committees, professional societies and other stakeholders.
"The controversy over the advice regarding peanut avoidance in pregnancy simply highlights how much important information we have still to learn about allergic diseases, and the importance of improving both care for allergic patients and UK-based research on the most effective methods to deliver it in the most cost-effective way.
"The Royal College of Physicians is fully supportive of the conclusions of the House of Lords in their call for the establishment of a network of specialist multi-disciplinary allergy centres to support translational research.
"However, improvements will not occur without funding, an implementation strategy and more trainee doctor posts in allergy."
