Global conference on allergic diseases from tomorrow

These delegates will be taking part in the 2nd International Scientific Conference of the World Allergy Organisation (WAO). It will conclude on December 9.

Being held under the patronage of the Union Ministry of Health, the meet would present data on the marked global increase of allergic diseases, highlighting allergies that are becoming more severe and complex, organisers said today.

An international faculty of 90 opinion leaders in the field of allergy will provide this data through a multi- disciplinary forum for healthcare professionals.

Allergic diseases and asthma, like other non- communicable ailments, are acquiring epidemic proportions worldwide and up to 30-40 per cent of the global population is now affected by some form of allergy, they said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates 300 million individuals have asthma worldwide, a figure that could increase to 400 million by 2025, if current trends continue.

The seminar's theme, 'Severe Allergies, Severe Asthma: New Strategies for Treatment and Prevention', was developed to address the challenge of the worldwide increase in allergic diseases and asthma, the organisers, they said.

"Allergy, even if it relates to asthma, is often trivialised and clinical services to help patients with such diseases are limited," Ruby Pawankar, Conference President and chief of WAO, told reporters.

"The meet strives to provide education and training for its healthcare professional attendees through recognition of allergic diseases as a global public health problem and provide information towards prevention and treatment."

Nearly 1,500 delegates will gather for the meet, he said. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad would inaugurate the four-day conference.