Good allergy practice--standards of care for providers and purchasers of allergy services within the National Health Service. Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Pathologists.

Allergic diseases affect at least 15% of the population and are the cause of much ill-health. 'Clinical immunology and allergy', the term used by the Department of Health in England and Wales for this area of specialization, is recognized as a separate specialty of medicine under the National Health Service. Many organ-based hospital consultants (e.g. chest physicians) have allergy as a special interest or subspecialty. Allergists deal largely with 'itch, sneeze, cough and wheeze' and so are experts in: summer hay fever (seasonal, allergic, conjunctivorhinitis); perennial rhinitis (symptoms of a 'permanent cold'); allergic asthma (including occupational asthma); allergy to stinging insects (especially wasps and bees); allergy to drugs; allergy-related skin disorders, i.e. urticaria, angioedema, atopic eczema and contact dermatitis; food allergy and food intolerance; anaphylaxis (acute generalized allergic reaction); evaluating the role of allergy in non-specific/polysymptomatic illness. Children with allergic disease should be under the overall care of a paediatrician since the progression of allergies in children differs from that in adults. Good allergy practice involves teamwork by doctors, nurses and dietitians. The investigation of allergy patients includes skin tests and challenge procedures (e.g. food allergy tests) as well as various specialized laboratory investigations. Good clinical practice by providers and the effective use of allergy services by purchasers should improve prognosis and cut costs of treatment in allergic disease.