MILWAUKEE, June 13,
2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- World Allergy Organization
(WAO), serving its membership of professional allergy/immunology
societies around the world, dedicates World Allergy Week, from
June 13 to 19, 2021, to raising
awareness of anaphylaxis triggers, identification, treatment, and
prevention.
Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that comes on
suddenly and severely after exposure to allergens, most commonly
food, drugs, and insect venom, and can be fatal. Anaphylaxis
involves the airway, breathing, or circulation (ABC). Features of
anaphylaxis include asthma-like symptoms of a mild allergic
reaction such as hay fever symptoms, itchy skin rash (hives),
swelling of the lips or face, abdominal pain or vomiting.
Anaphylactic shock is the most severe presentation, where
insufficient blood is circulating around the body, resulting in
collapse.
Motohiro Ebisawa, MD, PhD, of
Sagamihara National Hospital in Sagamihara, Japan, and President of the World Allergy
Organization, announced the focus of World Allergy Week 2021:
"This is about saving lives. Anaphylaxis can happen anywhere –
in schools, workplaces, homes, restaurants, and any places where
there are allergens that can trigger severe reactions in people
with allergies. Everyone should learn the early signs of
anaphylaxis and be able to recognize it and act fast."
"The most effective way to treat anaphylaxis and prevent
fatality is immediate injection of intramuscular epinephrine
(adrenaline), by way of auto-injectors or pre-filled syringes – at
the first sign of anaphylaxis – and call for an ambulance. People
at risk of anaphylaxis should work with their allergy/immunology
specialists to learn how and when to self-inject epinephrine
(adrenaline), and develop an emergency plan – keeping the medicine
and the plan with them at all times."
The importance of addressing the lack of availability of
epinephrine/adrenaline in some parts of the world is one of the
topics experts will discuss in "SToP Anaphylaxis!", a complimentary
webinar on Thursday, June 17,
beginning at 7:00 am CDT. Find your
local time by clicking here:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter-classic.html. A
live question-and-answer session will follow the presentations. The
program will offer information for both a general audience and
physicians. Details and registration are available here:
https://www.pathlms.com/wao/courses/32573/webinars/22426.
To learn more about anaphylaxis, visit
http://www.worldallergyweek.org, and attend the webinar. To find a
professional allergy/immunology member society of the World Allergy
Organization in your country or region, visit:
http://www.worldallergy.org/about-wao/member-societies.
Note to journalists: See "World Allergy Organization Anaphylaxis
Guidance 2020", World Allergy Organization Journal
2020;13(10):100472 (30 October). DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100472
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About the World Allergy Organization
The World Allergy Organization (WAO) is an international alliance
of 104 regional and national allergy, asthma and immunology
societies. Through collaboration with its Member Societies WAO
provides a wide range of educational and outreach programs,
symposia and lectureships to allergists/immunologists around the
world and conducts initiatives related to clinical practice,
service provision, and physical training in order to better
understand and address the challenges facing
allergists/immunologists worldwide.
(http://www.worldallergy.org)
Media Contact
Sofia Dorsano, World Allergy
Organization, 1-414-276-1791, sdorsano@worldallergy.org
SOURCE World Allergy Organization