Allergy Immunization (Allergy
Shots)
Specific
treatment of your allergy - Allergy
Vaccination / Immunotherapy:
The optimal treatment for allergy reduces or removes the symptoms and also
correct the immune system's abnormal reactions. Use of
symptomatic
drugs such as antihistamines or steroids can reduce symptoms, but they do
nothing to deal with the underlying disease.
If you feel that avoidance measures do not help as much as you would like and
your need for anti-allergic drugs is significant, you should consult a
specialist regarding allergy vaccination treatment in order to alleviate - and
possibly even cure - your disease.
Specific allergy vaccination (sometimes mentioned as
immunotherapy/hyposensitization):
Allergy vaccination is the only treatment that interferes with the basic
mechanisms of the allergic disease. That is to say, the vaccination treats the
cause of your allergy instead of just the symptoms.
Since allergy is an immunologic disease, the
immune
system ability to modify the disease can be exploited. Vaccination is used
for respiratory allergies - e.g. tree pollens, grass pollens, animal dander,
moulds and house dust mites. It is also very effective as protection against
severe allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings.
Regular vaccination with minute quantities of the offending allergen in
gradually increasing doses stimulates your immune system to develop an increased
tolerance. The allergy vaccination can be given as injections in the upper arm,
just under the skin. It is done with the smallest needle available (the size
used by diabetics).
Until your immune system has had time to adjust, you may still need the
medication you are already using. After three to six months, your need for drugs
will decrease and your symptoms will become less severe. New scientific studies
have shown that an effect is maintained for 5-10 years after the course of
vaccinations has been completed. Studies are continuing to see if there is an
even longer effect. An additional effect of allergy vaccination is that the
natural aggravation of the allergic disease is inhibited and the development of
asthma and/or new allergies may be prevented.
Among the wide variety of treatment possibilities available today, specific
allergy vaccination is still the only treatment that potentially cures
your allergy, with all that implies in terms of quality of life e.g.:
