Knowledge hub

What is allergy?

An allergy is a person’s immune system reacting to substances in the environment which are harmless for others. Allergic disease includes several different conditions, the most common of which are food and drug allergy, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, insect bite or sting allergies and latex allergy. Less common allergic conditions include idiopathic anaphylaxis (anaphylactic reactions with no known cause), eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) and food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES).

Why is a national approach to the allergy epidemic important? 

Allergic diseases are among the fastest growing chronic conditions in Australia, affecting approximately one in five people. Deaths from anaphylaxis in Australia have increased by seven per cent per year (1997-2013). With allergy diagnoses and hospital admissions on the rise, the NACE and the NAC work together to deliver a national plan of action to improve the lives of people living with allergic disease.

Why was the NACE established?

Centre for Food & Allergy Research (CFAR), hosted at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, has expanded to become the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE). As Australia’s peak allergy research body, it will develop hubs for allergy research, repository & discovery, evidence & translation and training & innovation.

The NACE will help ensure Australia remains at the forefront of evidence-based management of allergic disease.

What is the National Allergy Council? 

National Allergy Council (NAC) is a natural progression of the highly valued and successful National Allergy Strategy. The NAC will continue to implement and expand the National Allergy Strategy as a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) – the leading medical and patient support organisations for allergy in Australia. Visit the NAC.