Allergic rhinitis (AR), the most prevalent immunological disease, affects approximately 400 million individuals globally and can significantly impact quality of life (QoL). Despite nearly 25 years of guidelines, AR remains largely under- diagnosed, suboptimally treated and poorly controlled. In the light of new knowledge and treatment options, there is a necessity to update or revise fundamental AR definitions to facilitate communication across diverse specialties engaged in its treatment and to improve patient care. The European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway Diseases (EUFOREA) convened a meeting of experts and patient representatives to deliberate the optimal methodology for measuring AR treatment responses and establishing novel treatment goals. This paper presents a consensus on revised AR definitions, including control, severe allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SARC), refractory severe allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (R-SARC), remission, resolution, improvement, exacerbation, treatable traits (TTs), treat to target, relapse, progression, disease modification, and prevention.

EPOS2020 and beyondThe EPOS2020 Steering group is proud to introduce the EPOS2020 logo, the key goals, the core stakeholders, the planned methodology and the dissemination strategies for EPOS2020 (1) .This article is an introduction to the EPOS2020 project and presents the ambitions goals of the latest European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis including new and expanded

The history of pediatric allergology (PA) in Europe is relatively youthful, dating back to 1984, when a small group of pediatricians founded the European Working Group on Pediatric Allergy and Immunology - later giving rise to ESPACI (European Society on Pediatric Allergology and Clinical Immunol-ogy). In 1990, the first dedicated journal, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (PAI), was founded. There are striking differences across Europe, and even within European countries, in relation to the training pathways for doctors seeing children with allergic disease(s). In a sponsored collaboration with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Pediatric Section, the EAACI-Clemens von Piquet Foundation (CvP) organised in 2016 a workshop on the future of PA with a deliberate focus on education, research and networking/advocacy. The delegates representing many countries across Europe, have endorsed the concept that optimal care of children with allergic diseases is delivered by pediatricians who have received dedicated training in allergy, or allergists who have received dedicated training in pediatrics. In order to meet the needs of children and families with allergic disease(s), the pediatric allergist is highly encouraged to develop several networks. Our challenge is to reinforce a clear strategic approach to scientific excellence to across our member base, to ensure and enhance the relevance of European pediatric research in allergy. With research opportunities in basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological trials, more trainees and trained specialists are needed and an exciting time to be a pediatric allergologist.

Allergic rhinitis is an allergen-induced, immunoglobulin E–mediated chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa. It represents one of the most prevalent manifestations of allergic disorders, usually starting in the first 2 decades of life. It is frequently accompanied by concomitant conjunctivitis. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by nasal itch, anterior or posterior watery rhinorrhea, or nasal obstruction, which may occur in episodes or continuously. Pain, anosmia, or recurrent nasal bleeding is uncommon.

Several unmet needs have been identified in allergic rhinitis: identification of the time of onset of the pollen season, optimal control of rhinitis and comorbidities, patient stratification, multidisciplinary team for integrated care pathways, innovation in clinical trials and, above all, patient empowerment. MASK-rhinitis (MACVIA-ARIA Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a simple system centred around the patient which was devised to fill many of these gaps using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools and a clinical decision support system (CDSS) based on the most widely used guideline in allergic rhinitis and its asthma comorbidity (ARIA 2015 revision). It is one of the implementation systems of Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA). Three tools are used for the electronic monitoring of allergic diseases: a cell phone-based daily visual analogue scale (VAS) assessment of disease control, CARAT (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) and e-Allergy screening (premedical system of early diagnosis of allergy and asthma based on online tools). These tools are combined with a clinical decision support system (CDSS) and are available in many languages. An e-CRF and an e-learning tool complete MASK. MASK is flexible and other tools can be added. It appears to be an advanced, global and integrated ICT answer for many unmet needs in allergic diseases which will improve policies and standards.

Unter dem 1906 vom österreichischen Kinderarzt Clemens von Pirquet geprägten Begriff einer Allergie (griech. „allos“ und „ergon“; fremde bzw. andere Reaktion) versteht man eine überschießende Immunreaktion auf nichtinfektiöse, an sich harmlose Antigene der Umwelt (Allergene) mit der Ausbildung von klinisch relevanten Entzündungszeichen. Hiervon abzugrenzen sind Pseudoallergien, bei denen klinisch ähnliche Reaktionen ohne nachweisbare immunologische Vermittlung auftreten und die gemeinsam mit den Allergien zu den Unverträglichkeitsreaktionen zusammengefasst werden, und Autoimmunreaktionen, bei denen überschießende Immunreaktionen gegen körpereigene Antigene (Autoantigene) ausgelöst werden. Für die Eigenschaft der erleichterten Ausbildung von Immunglobulin-E-Antikörpern (IgE-Antikörpern) nach Kontakt mit Umweltstoffen wurde 1923 von Coka und Cooke der Begriff der Atopie geprägt. Pathogenetisch kann der Begriff Atopie gleichgesetzt werden mit der krankhaft erhöhten Bildung von IgE.

The network Healthy Start - Young Family Network is a project from IN FORM - German national initiative to promote healthy diets and physical activity. In this nationwide network medical and scientific societies, professional organizations, and professionally oriented institutions combined together to accompany and support parents through pregnancy and birth by providing information on nutrition and allergy prevention.The recommendations of various relevant professional organizations and institutions were compiled, discussed among the members of scientific advisory board of the network and formulated into standardized key messages (recommendations for actions). These recommendations were distributed to young families in the form of application-oriented messages for everyday life and as an integral part of disseminator training in the form of background information. They include key messages on breastfeeding, infant formula, baby foods, drinks (complementary fluids intake), nutritional supplements, nutrition for breastfeeding mothers, stimulants while breastfeeding, medication and food supplements while breastfeeding as well as advice on non-nutrition and non-smoking related allergies in children.