Abstract
Allergologie select, Vol. 5/2021 (349-360)
Nonpharmacological measures to prevent allergic symptoms in pollen allergy: A critical review
Karl-Christian Bergmann1, Markus Berger2, Ludger Klimek3, Oliver Pfaar4, Barbora Werchan5, Matthias Werchan5, and Torsten Zuberbier1
1Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Clinic for Dermatology, Venereology and Allergy, Berlin, Germany, 2Institut für Pathophysiologie und Allergieforschung, Zentrum für Pathophysiologie, Infektiologie und Immunologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria, 3Center for Rhinology and Allergology, Wiesbaden, 4Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Rhinology and Allergy, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, 5German Pollen Information Service Foundation (PID), Berlin, Germany
Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (hay fever) is the most common chronic disease in all industrialized nations. Therapy consists essentially in the use of anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory drugs, which mostly show a good and quick effect. With allergenspecific immunotherapy, there is also a causal possibility of tolerance induction. There is currently a considerable undersupply, as those affected trivialize the symptoms and often have concerns about long-term drug therapy. There is also great interest in using non-medicinal measures to prevent and/or relieve allergic symptoms on the assumption that these are free from side effects. In this publication, we present non-drug methods for which clinical studies are available in the literature. The methods have varying degrees of effectiveness. An evidence-based comparative assessment between the methods is not possible. There are also hardly any studies in comparison to standard drug therapy. A large number of the interventions consist of allergen reduction, e.g., with air filters, or cleaning of the mucous membranes with nasal irrigation, etc., none of which should be seen as a substitute but as a supplement to drug therapy.Correspondence to:
Prof. Dr. Karl-Christian Bergmann, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergie, Luisenstraße 2, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Allergologie select, Vol. 8/2024 (90-198)
AWMF mold guideline “Medical clinical diagnostics for indoor mold exposure” – Update 2023 AWMF Register No. 161/001
Julia Hurraß1,a,b, Birger Heinzow2,a, Sandra Walser-Reichenbach3,a,b, Ute Aurbach4,5,a, Sven Becker6,a, Romuald Bellmann7,a, Karl-Christian Bergmann8,a,b, Oliver A. Cornely9,a, Steffen Engelhart10,a,b, Guido Fischer11,a, Thomas Gabrio12,a, Caroline E.W. Herr3,13,a,b, Marcus Joest14,a, Christian Karagiannidis15,16,a, Ludger Klimek17,a,b, Martin Köberle18,a,b, Annette Kolk19,a, Herbert Lichtnecker20,a, Thomas Lob-Corzilius21,a,b, Norbert Mülleneisen22,a,b, Dennis Nowak23,a,b, Uta Rabe24,a,b, Monika Raulf25,a,b, Jörg Steinmann26,a, Jens-Oliver Steiß27,28,a,b, Jannik Stemler9,a, Ulli Umpfenbach29,a, Kerttu Valtanen30,a, Barbora Werchan31,a, Birgit Willinger32,a,b, and Gerhard A. Wiesmüller4,5,33,a,b
1Section for Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities, Division of Infection Control and Environmental Hygiene, Cologne Health Department, Cologne, 2Formerly: State Agency for Social Services (LAsD) Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, 3Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Munich, 4Laboratory Dr. Wisplinghoff, 5ZfMK – Center for Environment, Hygiene and Mycology Cologne, Cologne, 6Department for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany, 7Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, 8Institute of Allergology Charité, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, 9Institute for Translational Research, CECAD Cluster of Excellence, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany and Department I for Internal Medicine, Cologne University Hospital, Cologne, 10Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, 11Baden-Württemberg State Health Office in the Stuttgart Regional Council, Stuttgart, 12Formerly: Baden-Württemberg State Health Office in the Stuttgart Regional Council, Stuttgart, 13Environmental Health and Prevention, Institute and Polyclinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of Munich Hospital Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, 14Allergological-Immunological Laboratory, Helios Lung and Allergy Center Bonn, Bonn, 15Faculty of Health, Professorship for Extracorporeal Lung Replacement Procedures, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten/Herdecke, 16Lung Clinic Cologne Merheim, Clinics of the City of Cologne, Cologne, 17Center for Rhinology and Allergology, Wiesbaden, 18Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, 19Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IFA) of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), Unit Biological Agents, Sankt Augustin, 20Medical Institute for Environmental and Occupational Medicine MIU GmbH Erkrath, Erkrath, 21Scientific working group of environmental medicine of the German Society of Pediatric Allergology (GPAU), 22Asthma and Allergy Center Leverkusen, Leverkusen, 23Institute and Polyclinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, member of the German Center for Lung Research, Hospital of the University of Munich, Munich, 24Center for Allergology and Asthma, Johanniter Hospital Treuenbrietzen, Treuenbrietzen, 25Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Statutory Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, 26Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Giessen, 27Specialized Practice in Allergology and Pediatric Pulmonology in Fulda, Fulda, 28Institute for Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Clinical Infectiology, Paracelsus Private Medical University Nuremberg Clinic, Nuremberg, 29Doctor for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pediatric Pulmonology, Environmental Medicine, Classical Homeopathy, Asthma Trainer, Neurodermatitis Trainer, Viersen, 30FG II 1.4 Microbiological Risks, German Environment Agency, Berlin, 31German Pollen Information Service Foundation (PID), Berlin, Germany, 32Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology – Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and 33Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Uniclinic RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany, aCo-author, bMember of a scientific medical society, a society or a medical association with voting rights
Correspondence to:
Dr. rer. nat. Julia Hurraß, Hygiene in Health Care Facilities, Department of Infection and Environmental Hygiene, Cologne City Health Department, Neumarkt 15 – 21, 50667 Cologne, Germany
Email: [email protected]
