For a period of four days, Vienna will take center stage for Europe’s research against allergies. The European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) will hold its 25 congress in Austria’s metropolis from 10 to 14 June 2006. 6,000 scientists from across Europe will discuss the current state of Europe’s allergy research. In light of the high numbers of patients suffering from allergies and asthma, allergy research is one of the most important medical issues of our time. "Vienna has a long-standing tradition in allergy research. We are delighted to host a congress that will add new drive to the Europe-wide efforts to improve the care provided for allergy patients," said Professor Rudolf Valenta, Chairman of the congress, in Vienna today. Professor Valenta is proud to see that this important congress is being held in the Danube metropolis exactly 100 years after Vienna’s pediatrician Freiherr Clemens von Pirquet coined and introduced the term "allergy".
Half of Europeans affected by allergies?
According to EAACI estimates, half of Europeans will suffer from allergies by the year 2015. (1) Already now more than 80 million people in Europe are affected by them. 30 million Europeans suffer from asthma, and one fifth of those patients can be considered severe cases. (2) And numbers are rising. The children’s situation is particularly alarming: Every third child in Europe suffers from allergies today and 30 to 50 percent of these children will also be affected by asthma in the future. (1)
Every hour in Europe someone dies from Asthma
Allergies have many facets. They can affect the mucous membrane of the nose, the bronchial tube, the eyes, skin or - during allergic shock - the entire body. Allergies can last for years and take a chronic course. In severe cases, e.g. asthma or allergies against nutritional products or insect bites, they can even result in death. According to estimates by the World Health Organization WHO, every hour someone dies from Asthma in Europe. On the other hand, very efficient treatment methods are available today. The congress’ objective is to discuss the current state of research and implement its results as quickly as possible to improve the patients’ health.
(1) European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI): www.eaaci.net/media/PDF/E/820.pdf
(2) European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients
Associations (EFA): www.efanet.org
Press contact:
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