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The prevalence and complexity of allergic diseases have increased in recent decades, leading to a significant burden for patients and their families. However, training in Allergy and Clinical Immunology (ACI) varies worldwide, with significant heterogeneity between countries. This variability may limit the number of healthcare professionals and researchers undergoing ACI training in the future. To address this, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) has developed a mentorship program to support young professionals in enhancing their skills and network. The program has been successful and may serve as a model for other scientific organizations in the ACI field. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical stage of rapid biological, emotional and social change and development. Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with asthma and allergies need to develop the knowledge and skills to self‐manage their health independently. Healthcare professionals (HCP), parents and their wider network play an essential role in supporting AYA in this process. Previous work showed significant limitations in transition care across Europe. In 2020, the first evidence‐based guideline on effective transition for AYA with asthma and allergies was published by EAACI. Aim: We herein summarize practical resources to support this guideline's implementation in clinical practice. Methods: For this purpose, multi‐stakeholder Task Force members searched for resources in peer review journals and grey literature. These resources were included if relevant and of good quality and were pragmatically rated for their evidence‐basis and user friendliness. Results: Resources identified covered a range of topics and targeted healthcare professionals, AYA, parents/carers, schools, workplace and wider community. Most resources were in English, web‐based and had limited evidence‐basis. Conclusions: This position paper provides a valuable selection of practical resources for all stakeholders to support effective transitional care for AYA with asthma and allergies. Future research should focus on developing validated, patient‐centred tools to further assist evidence‐based transition care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has developed a guideline to provide evidence‐based recommendations for healthcare professionals to support the transitional care of adolescents and young adults (AYA) with allergy and/or asthma. The goal of this work was to ensure that the draft recommendations are also important for patients. Methods: We surveyed patients aged 11–25 years with allergy and/or asthma and their parents across Europe between 17 February and 16 March 2020. The multilingual survey was distributed through national allergy and asthma patient organizations in Europe as well as through social media. Results: A total of 1210 responses from 24 European countries were collected. There were 415 (34.3%) AYA and 795 (65.7%) parents. The majority of AYA (72.3%) and parents (81.9%) were female. Patients had a history of asthma (61.1%), allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (54.1%), food allergy (53.8%), atopic eczema (42.6%) and anaphylaxis (28.8%). All recommendations achieved the median score of either 'important' or 'very important'. The least supported recommendations were the use of joint clinics with both paediatric and adult physicians attending and the use of web‐based or mobile technologies for communication with the AYA. The most supported recommendation was checking that the AYA is knowledgeable and compliant with their prescribed medication. Qualitative analysis revealed conditional approval for some recommendations. Conclusions: There was agreement from patients and parents on the importance of the draft recommendations on transitional care for AYA with allergy and/or asthma and their parents. The recommendations now need to be implemented into clinical practice across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients need additional support, while they experience the challenges associated with their age. They need specific training to learn the knowledge and skills required to confidently self‐manage their allergies and/or asthma. Transitional care is a complex process, which should address the psychological, medical, educational and vocational needs of AYA in the developmentally appropriate way. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has developed a clinical practice guideline to provide evidence‐based recommendations for healthcare professionals to support the transitional care of AYA with allergy and/or asthma. This guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary working panel of experts and patient representatives based on two recent systematic reviews. It sets out a series of general recommendations on operating a clinical service for AYA, which include the following: (a) starting transition early (11‐13 years), (b) using a structured, multidisciplinary approach, (c) ensuring AYA fully understand their condition and have resources they can access, (d) active monitoring of adherence and (e) discussing any implications for further education and work. Specific allergy and asthma transition recommendations include (a) simplifying medication regimes and using reminders; (b) focusing on areas where AYA are not confident and involving peers in training AYA patients; (c) identifying and managing psychological and socio‐economic issues impacting disease control and quality of life; (d) enrolling the family in assisting AYA to undertake self‐management; and (e) encouraging AYA to let their friends know about their allergies and asthma. These recommendations may need to be adapted to fit into national healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescence represents a vulnerable time for individuals with asthma and allergic conditions. They suffer an unexpected degree of morbidity. This systematic review aimed to understand the challenges faced by adolescents and young adults with these conditions. Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken across eight databases. References were checked by two reviewers for inclusion. Study data were extracted, and their quality was assessed in duplicate. A narrative meta‐synthesis was undertaken. Results: A total of 108 papers describing 106 studies were retrieved, most focused on asthma. Five themes were identified across studies: (a) Health‐related quality of life—impairment was associated with poor disease control, psychosocial issues, adolescent‐onset allergic disease and female sex; (b) Psychological factors—asthma and food allergy were associated with anxiety and depression, atopic dermatitis was associated with suicidal ideation, and that parental emotional support may be protective; (c) Adherence—suboptimal adherence was associated with older age, barriers to medication usage, poor symptom perception and failure to take responsibility, and positive factors were routines, simpler treatment regimes, better knowledge and perceptions about medications; (d) Self‐management—facilitated by education, knowledge and a positive attitude; and (e) Supportive relationships—families could modify barriers to adherence and foster positive views about self‐management, adolescents suggested that their peers should be more involved in supporting them, and adolescents also wished to have support from nonjudgemental healthcare professionals. Conclusions: We have some understanding of the challenges faced by adolescents with asthma, less so for other allergic conditions. This knowledge will be used to support guidelines for managing adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergen immunotherapy is a cornerstone in the treatment of allergic children. The clinical efficiency relies on a well‐defined immunologic mechanism promoting regulatory T cells and downplaying the immune response induced by allergens. Clinical indications have been well documented for respiratory allergy in the presence of rhinitis and/or allergic asthma, to pollens and dust mites. Patients who have had an anaphylactic reaction to hymenoptera venom are also good candidates for allergen immunotherapy. Administration of allergen is currently mostly either by subcutaneous injections or by sublingual administration. Both methods have been extensively studied and have pros and cons. Specifically in children, the choice of the method of administration according to the patient's profile is important. Although allergen immunotherapy is widely used, there is a need for improvement. More particularly, biomarkers for prediction of the success of the treatments are needed. The strength and efficiency of the immune response may also be boosted by the use of better adjuvants. Finally, novel formulations might be more efficient and might improve the patient's adherence to the treatment. This user's guide reviews current knowledge and aims to provide clinical guidance to healthcare professionals taking care of children undergoing allergen immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]