KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) announced the inaugural World Anaphylaxis Awareness Day on Nov 21.
This landmark initiative, held on the opening day of FAAM-EUROBAT 2024 in Athens, Greece, seeks to raise awareness and promote essential steps in preventing and managing anaphylaxis, a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, according to EAACI in a statement.
With this initiative, we hope to empower individuals, families, and healthcare providers with the knowledge and tools to prevent and respond to anaphylaxis. This is an essential step toward improving patient care and reducing the impact of this serious health condition,” said EAACI President, Dr Maria Torres.
FAAM-EUROBAT 2024, EAACI’s renowned Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Meeting, will run until Nov 23, featuring global leaders in allergy research and care, in which World Anaphylaxis Awareness Day will serve as a key moment within the conference to highlight EAACI’s commitment to patient safety and allergy awareness.
Anaphylaxis affects approximately one to two per cent of the global population, with incidents on the rise worldwide. This severe allergic reaction demands immediate medical intervention and often stems from exposure to common allergens, including specific foods, insect stings, medications, or latex.
Despite the risks, awareness of anaphylaxis symptoms, causes, and emergency responses remains low. World Anaphylaxis Awareness Day addresses these knowledge gaps and fosters a global understanding of this critical health issue.
Through various educational activities, World Anaphylaxis Awareness Day will underscore the importance of prompt emergency responses and preventive measures.
In conjunction with this day, EAACI will also release “A Practical Guide for Patients”, a comprehensive resource developed to support patients and caregivers in understanding, managing, and preventing anaphylactic reactions.
This guide offers practical insights on identifying triggers, using adrenaline auto-injectors correctly, and creating personalised action plans to manage risk in everyday life.
-- BERNAMA
