title: Frequently asked questions in allergy practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the last 10-20 years, international guidelines and consensus statements for the management of common allergic diseases (e.g. allergic rhinitis and asthma) have been developed and disseminated worldwide. However, their impact on knowledge and standard of clinical practice among primary care physicians and specialists is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate need for an improvement in the dissemination of international guidelines for the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven medical students who attended 3-day 1st International Basic Allergy Course (2010) took down all questions raised during the entire course. A systemic analysis of these questions was performed to identify areas for improvement in diagnosis and management of allergic diseases mainly in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  268 participants, 143 males and 125 females, comprising Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists (n = 106) and trainees (n = 34), general practitioners (n = 87), and other healthcare professionals (n = 41) attended the course. Of the 103 questions recorded, 59 were regarding treatment modalities in allergy practice such as immunotherapy (n = 38), pharmacologics (n = 15), nasal surgery (n = 2), and others (n = 4). 41 questions (39.8%) have answers based in the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma guidelines (2001 and 2008). Certain questions were selected for further analysis because they appeared to be (a) more commonly asked (e.g. immunotherapy) or (b) were deemed to be challenging or, even controversial (e.g. food allergy and differential diagnosis between vasovagal and anaphylaxis reaction), as the recommendations in current international guidelines were less well-defined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study identified several problems that, if tackled, could help minimize confusion and provide better care for patients suffering from allergic diseases especially in the ASEAN region.
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: Xiang-Xuan
authors: XX
authors: Tan
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: Peiting
authors: P
authors: Xie
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: Jia-Li
authors: JL
authors: Kwek
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: Sock-Yuen
authors: SY
authors: Kwek
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: Zihui
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: Weiling
authors: W
authors: Soon
authors: ASCENT Ear Nose Throat Specialist Group, Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore 228510, Singapore.
authors: Jern-Lin
authors: JL
authors: Leong
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
authors: De-Yun
authors: DY
authors: Wang
keywords: Allergic diseases; Food allergy; Immunotherapy; International guidelines; Management; Vasovagal and anaphylaxis reaction