A comparison of the burden of allergies to peanut and non-priority legumes

Green Roof Gardens – Selecting Allergy-Friendly Vegetation: A Global Allergy and Asthma Excellence Network (GA²LEN) Position Paper

BACKGROUND: Nasobronchial allergy accounts for a significant burden of allergy all over the world. The prevalence of nasobronchial allergy is increasing, so we conducted an observational study of common allergens by skin prick test (SPT) method in this group of patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to study skin sensitivity to various allergens in patients of nasobronchial allergy, using SPT method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 6000 SPTs were done using 60 allergens on 100 patients of nasobronchial allergy. RESULTS: Males were the predominant group of patients, and nasobronchial allergy was most common in 21–30 years' age group in our study. Among various groups of allergens studied, insects (24%) were the most common offending allergens, followed by dust mite (20%), airborne dust (11.3%), pollens (7.75%), fungi (6%), dander (6%), silk (4%), juicy foods (2.4%), and nonjuicy foods (2.25%). Among insects, moth (30) was the common allergen. Among dust, grain dust (30) was the common allergen. Among pollens, Cassia siamea (20) was most common. Aspergillus fumigatus (16) was the most common fungus to which sensitivity was elicited. Among miscellaneous foods (juicy and nonjuicy), milk, almonds, and cashew nut (4 each) were the common allergens. CONCLUSION: Skin prick testing forms an essential part of a comprehensive approach for allergy remediation. Our study determined skin sensitivity to various allergens for avoidance therapy and immunotherapy in affected patients. Allergy to insects as found in our study to be most common is likely because of prevailing poor sanitation and overcrowded dwellings in the Indian milieu.

As the global burden of allergies grows, so does the shadow of anaphylaxis—an acute, life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction that demands swift recognition and management. World Allergy Week 2025, led by the World Allergy Organization (WAO), brings the spotlight to this critical issue under the timely theme: "Anaphylaxis: A Preventable Threat." This year's campaign is not just a call for awareness; it is a charge to action—especially for allergists—to prevent avoidable tragedies through vigilance, education, and evidence-based care.

The Finnish national allergy programme was introduced in 2008 to decrease the burden of allergy in the population. This study, carried out in 2013, evaluated the prevalence of parent-reported food allergies, treated with an avoidance diet until early school age, and discussed the rates in relation to those found in an identical study in 2009. School health nurses used a structured questionnaire to interview the parents of 1653 children aged of six or seven in the first year of elementary school. The criterion for a parent-reported food allergy was that the parents considered it necessary for their child to follow an avoidance diet at school. In 2013, 6.1% of the children were allergic to at least one food and 2.5% of the children were allergic to basic foods, such as cows' milk, eggs and wheat, compared with 2.7% in 2009. A significant decrease was seen in allergies to nuts, fruits and vegetables. Parent-reported allergies to basic foods, such as cow's milk, eggs and wheat, remained rather stable in first graders of elementary schools during the first 5 years of the Finnish national allergy programme, but allergies to nuts, fruits and vegetables decreased.