No abstract

There are remarkable differences in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of atopic dermatitis practiced by dermatologists and pediatricians in different countries. Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology nominated expert teams who were given the task of finding a consensus to serve as a guideline for clinical practice in Europe as well as in North America. The consensus report is part of the PRACTALL initiative, which is endorsed by both academies.

Antonella Muraro, Margitta Worm and Graham Roberts equally contributed as guideline chairs.This paper sets out the updated European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology's (EAACI) guideline regarding the diagnosis, acute management, and prevention of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a clinical emergency and all healthcare professionals need to be familiar with its recognition and management. Anaphylaxis is a lifethreatening reaction characterized by acute onset of symptoms involving different organ systems and requiring immediate medical intervention. 1 Although the fatality rate due to anaphylaxis remains low, 2 the frequency of hospitalization from food and drug-induced anaphylaxis has been increasing in recent years. 3 The symptoms of anaphylaxis are highly variable. 4,5 Data from patients experiencing anaphylaxis revealed that skin and mucosal symptoms occur most frequently (>90% of cases) followed by symptoms involving the respiratory and cardiovascular systems (>50%). Food, drug, and Hymenoptera venom are the most common elicitors of anaphylactic reactions. 5,6 The prevalence of the various causes of anaphylaxis are age-dependent and vary in different geographical regions. In Europe, typical causes of food-induced anaphylaxis in children are peanut, hazelnut, milk, and egg and in adults, wheat, celery, and shellfish; fruits such as peach are also typical causes of food-induced anaphylaxis in adults in some European countries such as Spain and Italy. 7,8 Venom-induced anaphylaxis is typically caused by wasp and bee venom. 9 Drug-induced anaphylaxis is typically caused by antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 10,11 Among antibiotics, beta-lactam antibiotics are the leading eliciting allergens. 12 At times, there is an occupational cause. 13 Co-factors may be aggravating factors in anaphylaxis, examples are exercise, stress, infection, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and alcohol. [14][15][16] In some cases, the cause is not obvious (idiopathic anaphylaxis) and investigations for rarer allergens or differential diagnoses should be considered. [17][18][19] This guideline, updated from 2014, 20 provides evidence-based guidance to help manage anaphylaxis. The primary audience is clinical allergists (specialists and subspecialists), primary care, paediatricians, emergency physicians, anaesthetists and intensivists, nurses, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals. The guideline was

High prevalence figures were found for atopic diseases, hand eczema and allergic contact dermatitis, and the diseases were closely associated. A considerable number of adolescents still suffers from AD, and a considerable sex difference was noted for hand eczema and allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel allergy and perfume allergy were the major contact allergies. In the future this cohort of eighth grade school children will be followed up with regard to the course and development of atopic diseases, hand eczema and contact dermatitis.

This guideline is the result of a consensus reached during a panel discussion at the second International Consensus Meeting on Urticara, Urticaria 2004, a joint initiative of the EAACI Dermatology Section and GA2LEN. Urticaria has a profound impact on the quality of life, and effective treatment is therefore required. The recommended first line treatment are nonsedating H1 antihistamines. They have proven to be effective in double-blind controlled studies, but dosages increased up to fourfold over the recommended doses may be necessary. However, for different urticaria subtypes and in view of individual variation in the course of the disease and response to treatment, additional or alternative therapies may be required. Immunosuppressive drugs like cyclosporin A and corticosteroids are not recommended for long-term treatment due to unavoidable severe adverse effects. This guideline was, in addition, accepted by the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) and formally approved by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS).