Medical professionals share allergy prevention guidelines
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Medical Association and Sabah Medical Association yesterday played host to three leading medical professionals who flew in from Kuala Lumpur to share data and findings on the newly published Malaysian Allergy Prevention (MAP) Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals.
The MAP Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals is a collaboration between the Malaysian Society of Allergy and Immunology (MSAI), Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia (OGSM) and Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA).
Due to the increased prevalence of childhood allergies, the three societies have come together to formulate the guidelines for the prevention of allergies.
The forum was attended by obstetricians, gynaecologists and paediatricians from Sabah and Sarawak. It was chaired by Paediatric Consultant Dr Nicholas Chin. The first speaker was Dr Liew Fah Onn, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Asunta Hospital i n Petaling Jaya.
Dr Liew outlined the crucial role Obgyn’s need to play in allergy prevention and also shared statistics on the impact of the ‘Allergy March’ and how 60 per cent of allergies within the first year of a child’s life.
He disclosed that tracking a patient’s family history can play a significant role in determining their allergy risk.
Dr Liew’s presentation concluded with the five core recommendations outlined i n the guidelines and emphasized to Obgyn’s in the audience that they have a key role to play as they are all frontline practitioners in allergy prevention.
Second speaker was Dr Amir Hamzah Abdul Latiff, president of the Malaysian Society of Allery and Immunology. He opened his presentation by sharing that one in five children in Malaysia are at risk of developing allergies.
Currently a Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Immunologist and Allergist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Dr Amir also spoke about the latest allergy risk statistics from a new study conducted by an independent research company.
“The study surveyed a total of 10,189 pregnant women who volunteered for an allergy screening program conducted at 68 Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics in Klang Valley. It is the first of its kind in Malaysia which looks into the potential allergy risk of the offspring of a large group of pregnant women based on family allergy history,” he said.
Dr Amir added that the study also indicated that Malaysia’s allergy risk prevalence mirrors that of western countries.
He also said that allergic conditions impact the individuals, their family members and the healthcare system.
If both parents have an allergic condition, their child may have a 50 per cent to 80 per cent risk of having an allergic condition, he said adding, “yet, if both parents have no allergies their child still runs a 15 per cent risk of being allergic later in life.
The final speaker was Dr Kent Woo Chee Keen who is currently practising at Gleneagles Hospital KL and his presentation examined allergy influences and allergen avoidance strategies.
According to him, our environment shapes our allergy risks and a 2012 study suggested children living on a farm were at less risk of developing asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis due to their exposure.
He also stressed that breast milk is still the gold standard and the guideline recommendation is to breastfeed exclusively for six months. For mothers unable to breastfeed, a clinically proven hydrolyzed whey formula is recommended.
The panel of doctors recognized that the introduction of Allergy Risk Tracker (ART), an interactive device that is currently placed at 50 hospitals and clinics across the country is a positive step forward for members of the public to know their allergy risk level.
The ART is capable of assessing a child’s allergy risk based on family history through asking a series of simple questions. A family history of allergies is one of the simplest and easiest ways to check if an individual is at risk of developing allergic diseases.
The ART will determine a person’s allergy risk classification, be it low, medium or high.