Allergy asthma practice in India: Beyond the guidelines “Shivpuri Oration 2017”

Abstract

This article summarizes two decades of allergy and asthma research in Mysore, South India, encompassing epidemiologic, mechanistic and biomarker studies as well as diagnostic and prognostic studies. The deficiencies of some of the current guidelines in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. Two of the most important considerations for future guidelines are to adopt the concept of progression of allergic disease and discuss plans to prevent or mitigate them to reduce the burden of morbidity as well as the enormous costs that go along with disease progression. The other is to consider serial spirometry for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD in difficult to diagnose subjects. The future directions for research in the field are discussed.