EAACI guidelines on the management of IgE-mediated food allergy

Published

Monday, November 25, 2024 - 9:00 AM

A holistic approach to managing food allergies is now required, combining traditional approaches with new treatments that have gathered enough scientific evidence to support their use.

Professor Kirsten Perrett, Centre for Food Allergy Research (CFAR) Director, and Associate Professor Rachel Peters, CFAR Associate Investigator, contributed to new evidence-based guidelines released by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).

The updated Clinical Guidelines on the Management of IgE-mediated Food Allergy were published in, Allergy on 30 October.

The CFAR experts joined a team of worldwide specialists in food allergy - led by Professor Alexandra Santos, Dr Carmen Riggioni, Professor George du Toit, and Dr Isabel Skypala - to develop these comprehensive guidelines.

The update was based on a systematic review of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach, and recommended:

– Allergen avoidance and dietary advice from specialised dietitians

– Prescription of medication to treat allergic reactions

– Provision of written treatment plans

– Education on recognising allergic symptoms and the use of emergency medication

– Prescription of adrenaline auto-injectors

– Psychological support for patients with significant anxiety

– New treatments such as omalizumab

– Oral immunotherapy for peanut, milk, and egg allergies in children and adolescents

The guidelines provide clear recommendations for healthcare professionals on how to best manage food allergy, improving the quality of life for millions of food allergy sufferers worldwide.

These recommendations could significantly improve the management of IgE-mediated food allergies, reduce the risk of severe reactions, and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families.

The guidelines were presented during the biannual congress of FAAM-EUROBAT 2024 from 21-23 November in Athens, Greece.

Professor Santos from King's College London, UK, presents EAACI guidelines published in Allergy.