Interview: Allergies, know to combat
Allergy, this disease of the century, remains poorly understood despite its great frequency. To answer the many questions, alleviate concerns and fears, but also to combat and prevent these diseases, Dr. Etienne Bidat * and Christelle Loigerot, president of the AFPRAL **, have combined their experiences in a book presented as the form of 100 questions and answers.
e-health: Do you think we are sufficiently informed about these diseases? If not, why and what are the consequences?
Dr. Etienne Bidat: Of course not! And that’s one reason this book.
‘The allergy has made remarkable progress since the 80s. But too many allergic ‘live’ yet little affection. The reasons are of course many.
The allergy, especially one family, is sometimes seen as an inevitable calamity and against which we can not do much. In some cases, only the troublesome symptoms are taken into account and therefore treated with ad hoc when no precise diagnosis has been increased, thus depriving the allergic broad therapeutic possibilities. It will take a drug just when you cough or when you breathe too bad, but it will not seek the cause of the cough, as a stuffy nose.
The allergic child and his family may lack information on the symptoms, their evolution and how to control them, then that knowledge would enable them to understand and therefore better manage the disease. Perfectly modern drugs are not effective or are misused because the treatment is not always fully explained and therefore understood by families. Fears about possible side effects of drugs, leading to avoid certain products sometimes essential. Too often, the child and his family live this allergy passively hoping that this will ’switch to growing.
Yet since the 80s, thanks to remarkable progress of allergies and with the evolution of care, the allergic child can and should live like all children his age. This is possible with some minimal constraints. First thing, an accurate diagnosis must be increased and a simple review is necessary. Then the child and his family should know and understand the allergic disease, its symptoms, treatments possible. But they must also receive answers to their questions and their fears. It is by becoming involved in their care as children with allergies can live like all children their age. Learn to work with her doctor is an investment that is well worth the trouble to live today and tomorrow with his allergy. ‘
e-Health: What are the latest advances in allergy and particularly in the care?
Dr. Etienne Bidat: this is a question frequently asked. ‘Research in the field of allergy are very numerous. For years to come, we can expect significant progress. But all this work will be useful only if an accurate diagnosis of allergy is set. But now, allergic diseases are often diagnosed late.
Waiting in the new treatment is important, and yet those currently available are used under exploited. The greatest discovery of this century is probably the awareness among doctors that without active participation of the allergic person and his entourage to the management and prevention of the disease, treatments are unnecessary.
The research will be useful only if the diagnosis is made!
Without accurate diagnosis, it can not be a suitable treatment. Asthma is a good example of the long period between the early signs and recognition of the disease. All studies show that for more than 25 years asthma is always underestimated. In France, 32 to 49% of asthma are undiagnosed. The consequence is simple, people with asthma are not addressed.
Moreover, when the French are diagnosed with asthma, they are often inadequately covered: 86.4% of asthmatics in Paris and 66.7% in Montpellier do not receive appropriate treatment, and among the most severe asthmatics 85% and 60% does not have anti-inflammatory treatment, whose effectiveness has been proven for many years.
More effective control of the environment
A better understanding of allergens to the origin of events and new discoveries on their ‘behavior’ enables us to consider in the future a less allergenic or not. The beds are not designed to be quickly overrun by mites. Apart from any controversy over genetically modified organisms, one can imagine pets producing more allergens. Allergenic foods will be replaced by genetically modified organisms that will more allergy. What may be a fiction is already partly achieved: rice, which is the staple diet of part of the world, is sometimes responsible for allergies in Southeast Asia, thanks to genetically modified organisms, a non-allergenic rice will soon be available.
The greatest discovery of the century ‘education’
The medical world is agreed on the need to teach the person with asthma or allergic to properly manage their illness. Numerous studies show that people who have been properly informed about the symptoms, the recognition of warning signs of an asthma attack for example, how to take medicines have fewer incidents treble, better disease control , Delaying or preventing the onset of complications. This training is essential for all allergic, it will be further events that are severe. Structures are being set up and behavior of patients and physicians evolves, but the road is still long both the medical side of allergy sufferers. “
