The way we communicate in allergy

Recently Japanese Society of Allergology/World Allergy Organization (WAO) Joint Congress in conjunction with Asia Pacific Academy of Pediatric Allergy, Respirology and Immunology was successfully held virtually from September 17 to October 20, 2020 with more than 5,500 participants. It was just like a luxury buffet with excellent lectures, and the feast lasted for a month. The 15th World Immune Regulatory Meeting lasts from June 30, 2020 to July 3, 2021! In the new normal era, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed the way we communicate in the academic and scientific world. Last month, I could invite 400 families for an annual event on atopic dermatitis instead of 50 families because it was virtually held. Hope Asia Pacific Allergy can play an important role as the way we communicate in allergy even in the era of COVID-19.

Drug allergy/hypersensitivity is a frequent type of adverse events in hospitals [1]. The challenges in the diagnosis and management of drug allergy/hypersensitivity could be different in Asia from non-Asian countries. This issue features a very unique and important report on the diagnostic procedures and practices in drug allergy/hypersensitivity from 15 member societies of Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI) [2]. It is very meaningful that it is the first survey on drug allergy/hypersensitivity from APAAACI Drug Allergy Committee and that the previous WAO International Survey on Diagnostic Procedures and Therapies in Drug Allergy/Hypersensitivity was published almost a decade ago [3].

This issue also contains a review article on the clinical value of in vitro tests for the management of severe drug hypersensitivity reactions from a Thai group sharing their experience [4]. Dias de Castro et al. [5] report the psychological profiles of patients with suspected drug allergy in Portugal.

Anaphylaxis is an acute generalized life-threatening allergic reaction. In 1913, Charles Richet was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his researches on anaphylaxis. This issue contains very interesting case reports: A pediatric anaphylaxis caused by gummy tablets containing fish collagen from Japan [6], and the first case report of anaphylaxis after ingestion of Liparis tanakae from Korea [7]. ‘Epinephrine’ is the drug of choice in anaphylaxis. However, the physicians’ awareness on the diagnosis of anaphylaxis and the epinephrine use still needs to be improved as Pimentel-Hayashi et al. [8] reported in this issue. It is also important to educate 119 or 911 rescue team or school nurses, and to improve their awareness on anaphylaxis because they may be the first medical personnel who see the anaphylaxis patients [9]. For food induced anaphylaxis, oral immunotherapy could reduce allergic reactions after accidental exposure to a small amount of the culprit food, and eventually induce tolerance. In this issue, Wongteerayanee et al. [10] report the feasibility study on new 3-step wheat oral immunotherapy in Thai Children.

Readers will also find an article on the association between low level of immunoglobulin G4 subclasses and recurrent wheezing or asthma exacerbation [11], an article on CD11c(+) dendritic cells coexpressing thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor in the animal model of eosinophilic otitis media [12], and a case of atypically presented Good syndrome [13].

Thank you very much for your support on Asia Pacific Allergy. “Allergy care does not stop with COVID-19” [14].