EAACI Portal

The EAACI community is deeply affected by the recent media reports of the death of a young child undergoing an oral food challenge (OFC) in the United States. Firstly, we wish to express our sincere condolences to Alastair Watson's family.

This is the first fatality reported in relation to OFC's and we await the full facts surrounding Alastair's death. While we wait for further details, this statement hopes to reassure the wider allergy community and to highlight procedures that should be followed by those performing OFC's; the gold standard test for food allergy diagnosis. In this regard EAACI has delivered the Guidelines for Food Allergy Diagnosis and Management in 2014 that should serve as best practice of care.

Food challenges are essential for the effective diagnosis and progress management of food allergies and currently cannot be replaced by skin prick or blood IgE, component or basophil activation testing or allergy testing alone. Patients and families should be informed about the potential risks and appropriate consent should be obtained. The OFC has been used safely for decades Life-threatening and fatal anaphylaxis at OFC's are exceptional if proper process and equipment are put in place by the health care professionals involved in oral food challenges. Reviewing internal procedures, setting, staffing and supervision should be performed on regular basis and on individual basis when needed. Ensuring patient’s safety is paramount. Protocols should be in place following some international guidance such as PRACTALL summarized in the EAACI Guidelines for Clinical practice on Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis, available for download here.

EAACI Pediatric Section

We have more than 3600 singatures so far! EAACI has co-launched a campaign called "United Action for Allergy and Asthma" to raise awareness and improve health programmes surrounding allergy and asthma. The official launch took place at the European Parliament in Brussels on 25 April 2017. Until the end of September, all interested parties; individuals as well as organisations, can sign online and join this move to support stronger and improved allergy and asthma policies. For more information, please see our website. Every signature makes a difference.

Official Press release.

EAACI Master Class on Occupational Allergy will be hosted at the Hospital La Paz in Madrid, Spain, from 29-30 September 2017. The main goal is to review the importance and role of different known and potential biomarkers useful to define the pathophysiological and clinical profiles of patients affected by occupational lung disease, particularly occupational asthma. Check out the programme available online and make sure to submit your case reports. Only a limited amount of space is availabe.

The new impact factors for Allergy, PAI and CTA have set a new record for EAACI journals. Allergy - As one of the leading journals in the field of allergy and clinical immunology, Allergy has had a very successful year with a new impact factor of 7.361. PAI is the world's leading journal in pediatric allergy, and it has a new impact factor of 3.775.  CTA is an open access online journal, and it has reached an impact factor for the first time, and it is an outstanding 3.239.

Thank you and congratulations to the editorial team, authors, reviewers and readers who greatly contributed to this success.

PAAM is the largest International scientific meeting dedicated to allergic disease and asthma in childhood. As one of the flagship niche meetings held by EAACI, we have enjoyed the growing number of participants over the years, with over 1300 attendees at the last meeting. Have a look at the preliminary programme and join us for excellent learning and networking opportunities from 26 - 28 October in London. You now have the opportunity to submit late breaking abstracts for discussion by 21 August 2017.