MILWAUKEE, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Those who suffer from allergic
asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis or stinging insect allergies may be good
candidates to receive immunotherapy, also known as "allergy shots,"
according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
"Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that aims to decrease sensitivity
to substances called allergens," said Linda Cox, MD, FAAAAI, Chair of the
AAAAI's Immunotherapy and Allergy Diagnostics Committee. "Allergens, like
pollen, mold or animal dander, are substances that trigger allergy symptoms
when an allergic person is exposed to them. Patients who receive
immunotherapy are injected with increasing amounts of an allergen until the
target therapeutic dose is reached, in an effort to build resistance to
specific allergens."
Immunotherapy has proven to prevent the development of new allergies,
and it may prevent the progression of allergic disease from allergic
rhinitis to asthma. Immunotherapy can also lead to long-lasting relief of
allergy symptoms after treatment is stopped.
How does immunotherapy work?
Immunotherapy works like a vaccine. Your body responds to the injected
amounts of a particular allergen, given in gradually increasing doses, by
developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen(s). As a result, allergy
symptoms decrease or minimize when you are exposed to that allergy in the
future.
There are generally two phases to immunotherapy:
-- Build-up phase: This involves receiving injections with increasing
amounts of the allergens about one to two times per week. The length of
this phase depends upon how often the injections are received, but
generally ranges from three to six months on a conventional build-up
schedule. The target dose may be reached in a much shorter period of
time (one day to several weeks) with rapid build-up schedules, referred
to as "cluster and rush." These rapid schedules involve giving two or
more injections each visit, which will decrease the number of visits
during the build-up phase. However, these schedules may also carry a
greater risk of patients experiencing an adverse reaction to the
immunotherapy.
-- Maintenance phase: This begins once the effective therapeutic dose is
reached. The effective maintenance dose depends on the patient's level
of allergen sensitivity and his or her response to the immunotherapy
build-up phase. During the maintenance phase, there will be longer
periods of time between immunotherapy treatments, ranging from two to
four weeks. Your allergist/immunologist will determine what range is
best for you.
You may notice a decrease in symptoms during the build-up phase, but it
could take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose to notice an
improvement. The effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments appears to be
related to how long the treatment lasts, as well as the dose of the
allergen. If you haven't seen recognizable improvement after a year of
maintenance therapy, work with your allergist/immunologist to discuss other
treatment options.
When is immunotherapy helpful?
Immunotherapy is recommended for those with allergic asthma, rhinitis,
conjunctivitis and stinging insect allergies. Immunotherapy for food
allergies is not recommended. The best option for people with food
allergies is strictly to avoid that food.
Immunotherapy should only be prescribed by physicians with specialty
training in allergy/immunology and should be administered in a facility
equipped with proper staff and equipment to identify and treat adverse
reactions to allergy injections. Ideally, immunotherapy should be given in
the prescribing allergist/immunologist's office, but if this is not
possible, your allergist/immunologist should provide the supervising
physician with comprehensive instructions about your immunotherapy
treatment.
When to see an allergist/immunologist
According to the AAAAI's referral guidelines, patients should see an
allergist/immunologist if they:
-- Have a clear relationship between asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and
exposure to an allergen
-- Have a poor response to medications or avoidance measures
-- Have a long duration of allergy symptoms (a majority of the year)
-- Are a child with rhinitis, because of the potential preventive role of
allergen immunotherapy in the progression of allergic disease
The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical
immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special
interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease.
Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine
physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become
specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease.
Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United
States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to
the public by providing educational information through its Web site at
http://www.aaaai.org.
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