Background As in many fields of medical care, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) resulted in an increased uncertainty regarding the safety of allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Therefore, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) aimed to analyze the situation in different countries and systematically collect all information available regarding tolerability and possible amendments in daily practice of sublingual AIT (SLIT), subcutaneous AIT (SCIT) for inhalant allergies and venom AIT. Method Under the framework of the EAACI, a panel of experts in the field of AIT coordinated by the Immunotherapy Interest Group (IT IG) set‐up a web‐based retrospective survey (SurveyMonkey®) including 27 standardized questions on practical and safety aspects on AIT in worldwide clinical routine. Results 417 respondents providing AIT to their patients in daily routine answered the survey. For patients (without any current symptoms to suspect COVID‐19), 60% of the respondents informed of not having initiated SCIT (40% venom AIT, 35% SLIT) whereas for the maintenance phase of AIT, SCIT was performed by 75% of the respondents (74% venom AIT, 89% SLIT). No tolerability concern arises from this preliminary analysis. 16 physicians reported having performed AIT despite (early) symptoms of COVID‐19 and/or a positive test result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). Conclusions This first international retrospective survey in atopic diseases investigated practical aspects and tolerability of AIT during the COVID‐19 pandemic and gave no concerns regarding reduced tolerability under real‐life circumstances. However, the data indicate an undertreatment of AIT, which may be temporary, but could have a long‐lasting negative impact on the clinical care of allergic patients.

Systemic (gastrointestinal and skin) reactions to ingestion of nickel rich foods in patients with nickel allergic contact dermatitis characterize Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome (SNAS). The objective of the study was to describe the nosologic framework of the syndrome and to compare sensibility and specificity for SNAS diagnosis between two different low nickel diets -BraMa-Ni and the usually prescribed list of forbidden foods -along with patient adherence to diet. One hundred forty-five patients with suspected SNAS (by history and benefit from nickel dietary restrictions) were selected and orally challenged with nickel for a definite diagnosis. Specificity and sensibility of the diets were calculated in relation to the results of nickel challenges. The nosologic framework of SNAS was deduced from the clinical pictures of 98 patients with positive nickel challenge and characterized essentially by skin and gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas all other symptoms (dizziness, headache etc.) were never elicited by the oral nickel challenge. The specificity and sensibility of BraMa-Ni in detecting SNAS were significantly higher than the forbidden food list diet, with an excellent patient adherence. Therefore, BraMa-Ni diet can be prescribed for the treatment of the syndrome other than for the diagnosis, the gold standard of which remains the oral nickel challenge. Nickel (Ni) is an ubiquitous highly sensitizing metal which can trigger allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in about 10-20% ofthe worldwide population (1). Twenty percent of these ACD patients also experience urticaria and angioedema, flares, itching, cough, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms due to the ingestion of nickel-rich foods (2-4). This condition, firstly known as systemic contact dermatitis, has been named systemic nickel allergy syndrome (SNAS) which better describes both the involvement of organs other than the skin and the implied immunologic mechanism that not only involves ACD typical Th1 but also Th2 cytokines (5).Few works have addressed the clinical nosology of this syndrome, being symptomatology described in case reports (6-8), in some therapeutic trials (4, 10), as a result of oral nickel challenges (9).In patients with suspected SNAS, a low nickel diet reduces symptoms and is applicable as a

Background: Urticaria is a disorder affecting skin and mucosal tissues characterized by the occurrence of wheals, angioedema or both, the latter defining the urticaria-angioedema syndrome. It is estimated that 12-22% of the general population has suffered at least one subtype of urticaria during life, but only a small percentage (estimated at 7.6-16%) has acute urticaria, because it is usually self-limited and resolves spontaneously without requiring medical attention. This makes likely that its incidence is underestimated. The epidemiological data currently available on chronic urticaria in many cases are deeply discordant and not univocal, but a recent Italian study, based on the consultation of a national registry, reports a prevalence of chronic spontaneous urticaria of 0.02% to 0.4% and an incidence of 0.1-1.5 cases/1000 inhabitants/year. Methods: We reviewed the recent international guidelines about urticaria and we described a methodologic approach based on classification, pathophysiology, impact on quality of life, diagnosis and prognosis, differential diagnosis and management of all the types of urticaria. Conclusions: The aim of the present document from the Italian Society of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC) and the Italian Society of Allergological, Occupational and Environmental Dermatology (SIDAPA) is to provide updated information to all physicians involved in diagnosis and management of urticaria and angioedema.

Women's work has traditionally been considered less hazardous to health in comparison with men's work. The increased women's participation in the workforce has led to an increased attention to women's working conditions. Women and men are unequally represented in individual professions or sectors (horizontal segregation), with women also under‐represented in leadership positions (vertical segregation). The selection of specific occupations can result in differences between types and levels of occupational exposures among women and men and can affect prevalence of occupational allergy. Gender distribution of work‐related asthma appears to vary across countries without clear global difference. Occupational rhinitis tends to be higher in women, although is not clear if this is related to a sex/gender effect or to differences in work exposure. Women are more likely to have occupational contact dermatitis, mainly due to wet work. No clear effects of gender on rates of hypersensitivity pneumonitis have been shown. Besides variation in exposures, physical and physiological characteristics, different behaviours and health consciousness have an impact on the occupational health hazards of women and men. Occupational allergy health promotion strategies need to consider approaches for women and men adjusted by gender, and legislative actions similarly could be implemented in a more gender‐sensitive way.

Background: Due to the lack of real life clinical and educational studies, "Io e l'Asma" Centre performed this implementation research (IR). Evaluate long-term effectiveness on bronchial asthma control of an integrated clinical and educational pathway for asthmatic children and adolescents. Methods: An observational retrospective pre-post intervention IR study was conducted among 262 children with asthma, ages 6-15 yrs. The intervention protocol included three clinical visits 8 weeks apart; an educational course at visit 1, post intervention consisted in two follow-up visits 6 months apart. The primary outcome was to verify the percentage of children who achieved bronchial asthma control at each visit. Secondary outcomes were based on daily therapy modulation, hospital admissions and the number of school days missed. An economic assessment was also included. Results: Two hundred sixty two children with bronchial asthma completed the pathway and were included in the analysis. The percentage of children who obtained disease control increased from 44% at visit 1 to 79% at visit 3 and at 1-year follow-up was 83%. Hospital admissions represent 11% of children: 8% before the intervention, 2% during the intervention, and 1% before and during the intervention; no hospitalizations related to bronchial asthma exacerbations were reported during the 2 follow-up visits. Conclusions: The therapeutic-educational pathway was adapted according to the international guidelines and the primary performance indicators. Our findings confirmed that the clinical plus educational approach, shared between specialists and family physicians, is an effective template for asthma management. These findings also demonstrated a strong economic advantage.