More than 700 million people in the world today suffer from allergic rhinitis (400 million) and asthma (300 million). Among the children of 6-12 years, the first affects 14,5% and asthma 9%.
(by Nicola Simonetti) Allergy is a spring problem and not only and is the third cause of chronic disease after osteoporosis / arthritis and hypertension.
It is estimated that at least one third of the world population is affected by some form of allergy, with a picture of very variable clinical manifestations, which involve the respiratory and visual apparatus, the gastrointestinal tract, the skin. In the last ten years the number of patients showing sensitivity to more substances has increased. Increased sensitization is associated with an increase in clinical manifestations such as rhinitis and allergic asthma.
"When it comes to allergy - says Cristoforo Incorvaia, an allergist at ASST Pini-CTO in Milan - we mean the anomalous reactivity of the organism of the subject allergic to particular substances, which are harmless for the majority of the population. The allergic individual, when in contact with these substances, develops an abnormal immune response with the production of specific antibodies (IgE). Substances capable of stimulating the allergic reaction are called allergens. Allergens are able to enter the body in different ways: most commonly by inhalation (such as, for example, dust and pollen), but also by food, by contact or by injection. Among the most common allergens there are certainly pollen and dust mites, as well as molds, yeasts, foods and rubber latex".
What to do in case of allergy? There are several products and over-the-counter medications that can help alleviate the symptoms that the allergic reaction produces, offering some relief to those suffering from these disorders. Scientific research, and biotechnology in particular, help us to treat the cause of the disease. Immunotherapy with allergens. The Ministry of Health recognizes its potential, so much to mention, in the "National chronicity plan","the reduced use of specific immunotherapy in the prevention and treatment of allergic asthma”As a possible criticality.
"Immunotherapy with allergens - explains Incorvaia - today represents the only causal treatment of allergic diseases, that is, aimed at acting on the cause of the disease itself. It consists in the repeated administration of allergens at regular intervals in sensitized individuals to modulate the immune response in order to reduce symptoms and the need to resort to symptomatic drugs in clinically overt allergic diseases and to prevent the development of asthma and new allergies. The aim is to intervene on the immune system in charge of controlling allergic responses, making it again able to control and correct them, and ultimately to return to normal function.". This therapy is specific, therefore, not only for the symptom, like other remedies that are generally used in the treatment of allergies (antihistamines, cortisone), but for the allergen, that is for the substance that triggers the allergic reaction. "This is not a substitution treatment for traditional drugs (antihistamines, cortisone drugs), but a treatment to which symptomatic drugs can be associated as needed, with the aim of rewriting the natural history of the disease, preventing an allergic person, even not symptomatic, it becomes and preventing the disease from becoming chronic".
Paola Puccinelli, coordinator of the Allergen Group of Assobiotec, national association for the development of biotechnologies that is part of Federchimica says “The European situation is different from country to country. Germany and France have intervened to regulate the sector at national level and currently Italy is also about to complete a path of registration of the allergenic extracts that have been on the market for over 20 years. In some countries there are national laws that oversee the provision of these therapies. For example, in Germany they are provided free of charge to the patient. In our country there is a lack of national legislation that regulates the reimbursement in a uniform way, so that the situation still appears today heterogeneous with specificity at regional level. At the moment anyone who wants to take the path of immunotherapy with allergens should contact the specialist".