www.worldallergy.org). WAO is greatly concerned about the increasing global burden of allergic diseases. A major focus of the Organization is to create global awareness of allergy and asthma as a major public health problem. The Organization published the first State of World Allergy Report (SOWAR) in 2007, and now presents the first ever global White Book on Allergy. WAO conducts a wide range of activities to support the global allergy community. This includes the provision of resources and promotions such as World Allergy Week to assist the work of member societies as they lobby for the enhancement of services for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. WAO offers research fellowships, conducts numerous surveys via its member societies and emphasizes the importance of allergy as a necessary field for research both in disease causation and management. The Organization has published position papers on allergy specialist training and service provision worldwide, and has identified the competencies required by all physicians who treat patients with allergic diseases, asthma, and other clinical immunologic problems. The WAO Position Paper on undergraduate training in allergy proposes that all medical students receive the fundamental knowledge and INTRODUCTION AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 5 MEMBER SOCIETY SURVEY REPORT Pawankar, Canonica, Holgate and Lockey Copyright 2011 World Allergy Organization training to recognize, diagnose, and treat these diseases at the primary level and to know when to refer patients with more complex problems to an allergy/immunology specialist, and a WAO model allergy curriculum is presently being developed to guide undergraduate training. WAO is in a unique position to provide education about the clinical practice of allergy, synthesizing and disseminating expertise and best practice recommendations from its member societies with well developed services to benefit those in underserved countries. Educational outreach programs, symposia, and lectureships are offered to member societies and health care professionals throughout the world. The WAO Emerging Societies Program helps to create and develop new allergy societies, conducts allergy training schools, and provides educational resources in underserved countries. WAO advises allergy societies about the development and provision of national allergy services and local physician training, drawing on the experience gained over many years by long-established member societies throughout diverse geographic regions. PURPOSE Why is it necessary to recognize allergic diseases as a global public health concern? • A steady increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases globally has occurred with about 30-40% of the world population now being affected by one or more allergic conditions. • A high proportion of this increase is occurring in young subjects; thus, as this young population reaches adulthood, the burden of allergic diseases is expected to increase even more. • Complex allergies involving polysensitization and multiple organ involvement are increasing, with a high morbidity placing a higher demand on health care delivery services. • It is forecast that allergic problems will increase further as air pollution and the ambient temperature increase. These environmental changes will affect pollen counts, the presence or absence of stinging insects, and the presence or absence of molds associated with allergic diseases. • In many countries, attempts to tackle these problems on a national basis are widely variable and fragmented, resulting in decreased quality of life, increased morbidity and mortality, and considerable cost to patients with allergic diseases. This White Book outlines the data which indicate that allergy is a major global public health issue, and provides “high level” recommendations to: • create a more integrated approach to the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases; • increase public awareness of allergic diseases and their prevention; • provide greater education at the primary healthcare level and to non-allergy-oriented secondary care