Prevention of allergy and asthma interim report-preventive measures.

The prevalence of asthma and allergy is increasing. It is estimated that over 40% of the world population is atopic. Asthma occurs in around 10-15% in the paediatric population and is estimated to affect between 100 and 150 million people worldwide, placing an enormous strain on health resources in many countries. Asthma is a major cause of hospitalisations for chronic diseases in children in the western world. A strategy is needed to prevent this increased prevalence of allergy, which is a major cause of asthma (often labelled as a ``non-infectious epidemic''). Over 2 years ago IAACI recognised the need for a global organisation taking responsibility for exchange of science and education in allergy. The name of the Association will be changed to World Allergy Organisation (WAO) after the IAACI Congress in Sydney in October 2000. Since chronic respiratory disease (including asthma) will be one of four major noncommunicable diseases of immediate focus for WHO, WHO invited IAACI-WAO to participate in this collaborative project. WHO/IAACI-WAO created a working group consisting of six ``Chapter Chairpersons'', each with coauthors and a meeting of the group took place on 5 and 6 December 1999 in WHO head