FOOD ALLERGY IN THE RESOURCE-LIMITED SETTING

Developing countries, which are frequently resource-limited, have not been spared the food allergy epidemic. Noncommunicable diseases such as allergies are often not afforded the recognition and budget that acute and infectious diseases are given, making management in resource-limited settings potentially challenging. However, there is scope to run a cost-effective and competent food allergy service in resource-limited areas using evidence-based, affordable testing and management strategies, as is discussed in this article. Awareness and recognition of potential food-allergic patients must be started in peripheral clinics and baby immunisation clinics, which will require staff to be educated in these areas. As important as recognition of food allergies is the provision of culturally appropriate affordable nutritional alternatives. The prevention of food allergies with evidence-based strategies should be promoted at grass-roots level.