The World Allergy Organization (WAO) is an international
umbrella organization
An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions who work together formally to coordinate activities and/or pool resources. In business, political, and other environments, it provides resources and ofte ...
of 109 regional and national
allergology
Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, refer a number of conditions caused by the hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermat ...
and
clinical immunology
Immunology is a branch of medicineImmunology for Medical Students, Roderick Nairn, Matthew Helbert, Mosby, 2007 and biology that covers the medical study of immune systems in humans, animals, plants and sapient species. In such we can see there ...
societies that cooperate across 27 committees.
Since the first World Allergy Congress (WAC) held in
Zurich,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
in 1951, there have been 37 WACs, WAO International Science Conferences (WISC), and symposia. Beyond sharing research findings, these meetings also allocate funds for postgraduate programs on allergy and clinical immunology.
History
After the International Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (renamed as World Allergy Organization) was founded at the 1951 International Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (renamed as World Allergy Congress), these major conferences were held triennially until the 2003 switch to a biennial format.
Publications
The WAO publishes monthly issues of the open-access ''World Allergy Organization Journal'' with Alessandro Fiocchi and
Erika Jensen-Jarolim serving as co-editors. The articles are divided across "Environment and Allergy," "Drug Allergy and Hypersensitivity," "Food Allergy," "Diagnostics in Allergy," and "Allergen Immunotherapy" sections. WAO organizes an annual World Allergy Week from June 5-11th with the 2022 theme of "the
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
and allergy connection" focusing public attention on common asthma irritants, symptoms, and prevention methods.
Partnerships
WAO is a member of the
Council for International Organizations of Medical Science (CIOMS). Its collaborations with the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...
(WHO) include a January 2002 meeting on the "Prevention of Allergy and Allergic Asthma" held in Geneva, Switzerland that emphasized minimizing
air pollution
Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many different types ...
and teaching patients to carry
epinephrine autoinjectors.
See also
*
Ruby Umesh Pawankar
References
External links
*
International medical and health organizations
Allergy organizations
International organizations based in the United States
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