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Shanghai to set up an allergic center

By Chen Qide (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-24 14:47

Shanghai is expected to establish a citywide allergic center to fight against allergic diseases.

"Preparations are under way to extend the treatment of allergic diseases to the whole city,"Cao Lanfang, an allergist from Shanghai Renji Hospital, said today.

At present, the hospital has a section to treat allergic diseases, leading the city, which include allergic asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis.

Every year, it treats about 20,000 patients of the kind, Cao said, adding that "more and more people are suffering allergy."

Statistics show that the allergy incidence in China is 20 per cent to 35 per cent, while Europe has a 50 per cent.

"Big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have a higher rate," she said.

"The worsening environment caused by pollution is a major source of allergy," she said.

About 400 million people worldwide are suffering from rhinitis and 300 million people have allergic asthma, who are in great need of treatment. Chinahas 20 million allergic asthma patients waiting to be treated.

"The research of allergy in Chinais still at a lower level and needs to be reinforced," said Shen Huifeng, a traditional Chinese medicine professor from the hospital.

He said local medical researchers are studying ways to prevent and treat allergic diseases by combining traditional Chinese medicines with Western medicines.

China Daily Shanghai Bureau