Allergy immunotherapy is designed to reduce the sensitivity to a specific allergen. It’s a highly effective approach that has been around for over a century, helping individuals relieve their allergy symptoms.
Understanding immunotherapy for allergies and how it works can help you decide if it’s the right treatment. This article will delve into the basics of allergy immunotherapy, how it works, and its history. We will also discuss the different approaches available and the benefits of this treatment.
Understanding Pesky Allergies
To understand allergy immunotherapy and how it works, we need to understand the basics of an allergy. An allergy is a reaction in the body to a foreign substance, such as pet dander, bee venom, or pollen.
Your body produces antibodies, blood proteins that counteract a specific antigen. These antibodies help protect your body from harmful substances, and although the allergen isn’t technically dangerous, your body flags it as such.
When your body detects the allergen, the antibodies trigger an immune response, resulting in allergic symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, from a runny nose or an itchy throat to anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Allergy Immunotherapy: A Solution to Allergies
Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) reduces sensitivity to a particular allergen. It helps “train” your body not to react as aggressively to a foreign substance.
The treatment works by reducing the production of the “blocking” antibody responsible for creating the symptoms. Each dose contains an incrementally increasing amount of the allergen, slowly reducing the immune system’s sensitivity.
It can be incredibly effective, leading to significant improvements within the first year. However, most people need to wait two to three years into treatment to enjoy the full extent of their efforts.
Healthcare providers often employ one of two approaches: subcutaneous or sublingual. Subcutaneous or under the skin, immunotherapy involves injections containing the allergen. In contrast, sublingual immunotherapy is administered under the tongue via tablet or drops.
Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is the most popular approach, but sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is a common alternative for those who don’t like needles. Unlike immunotherapy allergy shots, it doesn’t involve injections, so it’s an excellent option for kids.
The FDA has only currently approved sublingual immunotherapy for allergies, and while drops can be highly effective, they’re only available for off-label use. You may still find both options on the market, as many appreciate the needle-less sublingual approach to tackling allergies.
The History of Allergy Immunotherapy
Allergy immunotherapy is far from a new approach to combatting pesky allergies. Instead, it’s been around for over a century, helping people relieve their symptoms for decades. Leonard Noon and John Freemen introduced the treatment in 1911 as allergen desensitization or hypo-sensitization.
In the years since its introduction, researchers and healthcare experts have conducted extensive research on this methodology, uncovering evidence proving its remarkable efficacy.
For example, various research and clinical trials showcase the notable efficacy of repeated subcutaneous injections. Over time, these injections help achieve an allergen-specific tolerance for years after the last injection.
Another study examined AIT-treated individuals versus a control group. The study found that the treatment consistently delivered more significant reductions in allergic rhinitis and asthma prescriptions, including asthma controller and reliever prescriptions, compared to the control group.
Additionally, the study discovered that the AIT group experienced a greater likelihood of stepping down asthma treatment than the control group.
Allergy Immunotherapy: Closing Thoughts
Allergy immunotherapy is an effective treatment for reducing the sensitivity to a particular allergen. It has been around for over a century and has undergone extensive research, proving its remarkable efficacy. With subcutaneous and sublingual approaches, healthcare providers can tailor the treatment to meet individual needs. Although it may take some time to enjoy the full extent of its benefits, allergy immunotherapy can significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from allergies.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re considering allergy immunotherapy to combat your allergies and the resulting symptoms. Your doctor can help you select a treatment plan for your needs.