Management of food allergy in Japan "food allergy management guideline 2008 (revision from 2005)" and "guidelines for the treatment of allergic diseases in schools".

In 2005, the "Food Allergy Management Guideline 2005" was published. In order to encompass food allergy from infancy to adulthood, the project committee included not only pediatricians, but also internists, dermatologists, and otolaryngologists. After the release of the guideline, oral food challenge tests were approved as a medical examination on hospital admission by the national health insurance system in 2006, and the tests at outpatient clinics were also approved in 2008. As clearly stated in the guideline, it is essential for general practitioners to refer food allergy patients to specialists to receive accurate diagnosis. A specialist is needed because the oral food challenge test, which is sometimes required for accurate diagnosis, carries the potential risk of developing an adverse reaction. In 2008, the "Food Allergy Management Guideline 2008" was revised to update recent advances, such as the appropriate conditions needed to perform oral food challenge tests and probability curves for hen's egg and cow's milk developed in Japan. In the same year, "The Guidelines for the Treatment of Allergic Diseases in Schools" was published by the Japanese Society of School Health. In addition to the guideline, "School Life Management Certificate (for Allergic Diseases) " was developed in order to allow the verification of the diagnosis and encourage the discussion of countermeasures by parents/guardians and school teachers for students requiring special care. It is hoped that this review article will be useful for doctors treating food allergy and that the quality of life of food allergy patients and their parents will be improved.