There is a growing number of followers of dietary regimes such as vegetarianism and veganism, which has benefits on one side, but poses significant challenges on the other side for people with food allergies. “Soja, for instance, is the most difficult allergen to avoid in a vegan diet, since it is present in over 60 percent of processed plant-based products; and then there are also pulses, nuts, sesame, and wheat, that are the pillars in vegan diets but have high allergic potential”, explained Daniela Brandão Abreu , one of the many specialists that have come to the 6 th Hospital da Luz Immuno-allergology Congress, on May 22, and shared experiences, concerns and guidelines on the best way to diagnose, treat and monitor allergic diseases in children, which was the main theme of this year’s gathering. “Allergic diseases have high prevalence, often with complex and severe clinical manifestation, requiring an increasingly differentiated and updated approach”, explains Luís Miguel Borrego , director of the Allergy and Immunity Center at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, who presided the congress. Daniel Machado Oliveira (Alto Minho ULS), for one, talked about the good results obtained by clinical protocols adopted by his team in cases of children stung by wasps and bees. Allergy to these insects’ poison is the second cause of anaphylaxis (the most serious and potentially fatal allergy) in childhood, right after food allergies. “Immunotherapy is the single modifying therapy of this disease with proven potential to induce lasting immunological tolerance and save lives”, he explained. On its turn, Ângela Gaspar , coordinator of the Immuno-allergology Day Hospital at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, described how the service operates – namely, the therapeutic strategies, protocols, and results of food desensitization processes applied. The goal is to “modify the natural history of the disease”, which requires hospital environment, and a dedicated team 24-hour available and with rapid response capacity. The results are encouraging: for instance, out of 33 children that were submitted here to milk desensitization, 31 managed to “negativate”. The influence of digital / social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on allergic diseases were the conference topics of this year’s two guest speakers. Sofia Campina explained that the major adverse effect of social media in allergology “is aleatory restrictive diet” (for instance, avoid giving peanuts to children until late based on “narratives of fear acquired online”, increasing prevalence of the allergy) and “non-adherence to validated pharmacological therapy” (refusal to give inhaled corticosteroids to a child with asthma, for instance, from misinformation on toxicity). The physician must intervene near the patients / family clarifying doubts and allowing them to make well-informed decisions. “Let us not behave like ostriches but also not dive into the deep end”, pointed out João Almeida Fonseca (CUF Porto, Oporto University), who spurred the audience to reflect on the opportunities offered by AI in the approach to allergic disease in children. AI is a powerful tool that can be used to support a more precise diagnosis and a more customized therapy also in immune-allergology, but there is still way to go, he added. “A congress reinforcing national immuno-allergology” The most common respiratory allergies in children were also discussed (asthma and allergic rhinitis), as severe and complex allergies, and those related to the most widely used antibiotics in childhood. It was a day filled with information and experience sharing that will certainly contribute for better clinical practice. Mário Morais de Almeida, the current president of the World Allergy Organization (WAO), could not be present, but made sure to send a message of “greeting and recognition” that was read during the opening session. “The Hospital da Luz Immuno-allergology Congress already represents a relevant moment of the specialty at national level, not only for the scientific quality of the program, but also for the way it translates a modern vision of the immuno-allergology specialty: integrated, transversal, patient-focused, and open to discussion” with other areas. “Pediatric allergic disease is presently more prevalent and more demanding, compelling us to prepare, educate and respond better. Portuguese immuno-allergology has much to be proud of and initiatives such as this consolidate its position and international projection”, he added. “It is with great satisfaction and enthusiasm that we hold another edition of this congress. Here we value not only the healthcare activity, but also education and training always aiming to be on the forefront of research. And the theme of this congress could not be more up to date”, stated Rui Maio , the clinical director of Hospital da Luz Lisboa. As on previous editions, there was a competition for scientific papers. The winners were Tomás Duarte de Almeida – 1 st prize, for the poster entitled “Allergy to hymenopteran poison in pediatric age – Immunotherapy as protective strategy” – and Cláudia Monteiro Marques, who conquered the 2 nd prize with the paper entitled “Efficacy of oral immunotherapy to cow’s milk and long-term safety”. Hospital da Luz thanks all the participants, speakers, and sponsors in this congress. Together, we can improve the healthcare provided to our patients. The Hospital da Luz National Congress of Immuno-allergology will return in 2028! In the photo below, the members of the organizing committee: Inês Gonçalves Nunes , Leonor Paulos Viegas , Susana Piedade , Cláudia Marques and Luís Miguel Borrego.
