Allergy Today: Winter 2020/21

Allergy News – Check it. Don’t chance it – NICE Guidelines World Atopic Eczema Day – Cat Allergy Human Microbiome & Allergy – House Dust Mite & Immunotherapy

This is the time of year when we look back over the last year or so. Our Annual Report for 2019/20, which will soon be available on our website, is a powerful record of the work of our charity over that period, with a wide range of projects and campaigns to raise awareness and understanding of allergic conditions, including our work with key opinion leaders and decision makers.

Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic, which struck at the start of this financial year, has inevitably brought some challenges for the Allergy UK team we have continued to deliver the support services that our allergic community needs through our busy Helpline and other communication channels. These services have been needed more than ever as people with allergic conditions experience increased fear and anxiety about their condition and the virus, as well as concern about the cancellation of clinic appointments. Our team has worked tirelessly to serve our community during this time with the provision of up-to-date advice and information to help address their fears, and a voice at the end of the telephone to support them in these troubling times.

In this last month we have also been able to reinstate our very successful Masterclass programme with the launch of our first virtual Masterclass of three live streamed sessions. These have attracted a large audience of healthcare professionals and all three Masterclass sessions are available on our website, with CPD points available. This Masterclass topic was ‘Understanding Food Allergy’ and included sessions on Food Allergy in Childhood, Peanut Allergy, Cow’s Milk Allergy, Atopic Dermatitis and Pollen Fruit Syndrome. Given the ongoing situation we have decided to focus on live streaming our Masterclasses in 2021 and more details of these will be available soon.

In this edition of Allergy Today we have articles on cat allergy, from both a clinician’s and a vet’s perspective, as well as on the microbiome and sublingual immunotherapy which we very much hope you will enjoy reading.