Is New Zealand prepared for an allergy epidemic?
A severe lack of allergy services in New Zealand means a number of New Zealanders do not have access to the care they
need.
Research shows allergies have increased dramatically over the last decade and, currently one in three New Zealanders
are affected. Despite this increase, there are only nine allergy specialists in the country, five of whom are based in
the public sector, and all are located in the main centres of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. There are also no
paediatric allergists based outside Auckland.
Currently, each District Health Board has to apply for its own funding. Allergy New Zealand strongly backs a nationally
funded allergy service and has long had concerns that those living outside the main areas are being put at risk.
"We are concerned at the number of families where children are not being appropriately diagnosed or their allergies
managed effectively. This has ongoing debilitating effects on their health, and we are really concerned at the
unidentified risks of anaphylaxis," says Penny Jorgenson, CEO Allergy New Zealand.
"On the other side of it, there are the costs many families are bearing to get access to allergy specialists."
Many New Zealanders spend an enormous amount of time trying to find out the appropriate medical treatment they require
and are constantly referred out of their region to access a specialist, or are not referred at all.
It is hoped that Allergy Awareness Week (14th-20th May 2006), an annual initiative organised by Allergy New Zealand,
will help to alert the government to the problem.
New Zealand is not alone in battling the allergy epidemic. Globally, westernised countries are witnessing a massive
surge in allergy sufferers. For example, an ACAAI quantity of life study on allergic rhinitis shows that this ailment is
costing the US billions in lost production, and the economic burden of allergic rhinitis is estimated at $18 billion.
Another study (i) conducted in the Isle of Wight revealed that peanut allergy in children has trebled in the last
decade. In addition, a British study (ii) has shown that children with peanut allergy have far higher stress levels than
children with insulin-dependent diabetes,
An anaphylactic reaction is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can result in death if not treated quickly
with an injection of adrenaline. The ASCIA (iii) suggests that this type of reaction is becoming more common, revealing
that one in 166 children having had at least one anaphylactic reaction in the past, with one in six of these happening
at school or in childcare.
As a result, pressure is being placed on New Zealand schools and pre-schools to develop good allergy management and
anaphylaxis protocols. Allergy New Zealand receives many requests for help from both parents and schools wanting to know
how to keep children with severe allergies safe, and where to get training in administering the EpiPen®.
One New Zealand example includes three year old Finn O'Malley, who suffers from multiple allergies, and despite being
based in Levin, he and his mother Tara have to travel regularly to Auckland to see a paediatric allergy specialist.
In addition, Finn must carry an EpiPen® with him at all times, and Tara has found that the kindergarten he attends was
unprepared for coping with allergies prior to his enrolment. Tara has had to personally arrange professional medical
development for the staff and gives ongoing training to new staff members.
"Most schools have staff trained in first aid but I believe this also needs to include anaphylaxis and EpiPen®
training," says Ms O'Malley.
"An allergy can develop at any time and is not just limited to food, for example bee-stings. We have always purchased an
EpiPen® for Finn and carry it at all times but to have one on the premises at his kindergarten would be a huge relief."
As part of this year's Allergy Awareness Week, Allergy New Zealand is conducting a Red Alert Day campaign, which is
aimed at raising awareness of allergies throughout schools and kindergartens in New Zealand. In addition, Allergy New
Zealand is providing educational materials and advice on how to support allergic children and, if necessary, how to
respond to an allergic reaction.
ENDS