Allergy practice worldwide - A report by the World Allergy Organization Specialty and Training Council

Allergic diseases constitute the most common causes of chronic illness in developed countries and incidences are rising in developing countries. It has been proposed that there is a worldwide epidemic of allergic diseases which is likely to be a consequence of the changing environment and improved general health, superimposed on a range of genetic susceptibilities. Therefore, the treatment of allergy should have high priority in most countries. However, around the world, allergy practice and so-called "allergy care pathways" differ enormously. There is a need for improving patient care, including better training for undergraduate medical students, primary care physicians and generalists, as well as ensuring that system specialists, who are likely to be dealing with allergic patients, have a higher level of training. Furthermore, there should be a sufficient number of specialist (tertiary) care centers in each country that are able to set the standards, advance research, organize training at a local level, and support secondary and primary care by establishing appropriate networks. © 2006 Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.