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I've heard a lot about "allergy
shots" What are "allergy shots"?
Allergy shot is the term often used for
immunotherapy or allergy vaccination. Immunotherapy is an
effective vaccination program that can increase your immunity to
allergens (things that cause allergy) It involves administering
gradually increasing amounts of allergens. In our clinic,
injections are first given once or twice a week. After
four to eight months, a maintenance level is reached and
injections become every two weeks. Some patients are able
to increase the intervals to three to four weeks. In
general, immunotherapy is continued for three to five years or
longer.
Immunotherapy works by altering the abnormal
immune responses that cause allergy. It suppresses
antibodies that provoke allergy (immunoglobulin E). It
also induces the production of protective antibodies
(immunoglobulin G) that neutralize the allergens as they are
encountered by the body. The end result is the
prevention of the allergic inflammation that is the cause of
increased swelling and mucus production in the nose, sinuses and
lungs.
Although extremely beneficial to many allergic
patients, immunotherapy is not without adverse effects.
The most common one is swelling at the site of the injection,
which is called a local reaction. Rarely, a patient may
develop systemic reactions resulting in asthma symptoms and
throat closing. Due to the risk of systemic reactions, we
allow immunotherapy at the doctor's office only. Patients
are asked to remain in the clinic for fifteen minutes or longer
after their injections.
In summary, immunotherapy is a vaccination
program that is highly effective for allergic patients. it
is the closest thing to a "cure" for those who have allergic
rhinitis or allergic asthma. |
