About Allergies Therapy
- Before beginning allergy shots, it is necessary to complete an allergy skin test. These tests pinpoint the patient's allergens. This allows targeted treatments to work effectively and prevents patients from taking injections that they do not need. In most situations, a nurse conducts the tests and a doctor evaluates the results. While the test involves minimal pain, it does involve puncturing or scratching the skin. Tiny quantities of the potential allergen are placed on or in the skin. After a certain amount of time, any changes to the skin are evaluated by a doctor, who declares whether or not the change is due to an allergic reaction.
- Once the allergen is identified, the treatment consists of a series of shots. These shots contain small amounts of a serum containing the allergen. The amount of serum in each shot is increased over time as the body begins building a tolerance for the substance. During the buildup phase, when the quantities are increasing, shots are administered two or more times each week. After this phase, which can last as long as seven months, the patient is placed on a maintenance program with a monthly shot schedule that can last more than five years.
- Most patients who adhere to their treatment schedules notice a significant drop in their allergic symptoms. This reduces the need for ongoing allergy medication, asthma treatments and fatal allergic reactions. These treatments are effective for insect stings and can prevent fatal reactions in people with severe allergies.
- Injections need to be administered in professional medical offices with attendant staff who are prepared to handle emergency situations. While rare, adverse reactions can occur that will leave a patient in great danger. Anaphylaxis, a condition where blood pressure drops and respiratory difficulties ensue, can cause death if not treated quickly. Because of this risk, patients are usually monitored for half an hour after the shot.
Lesser reactions can include itching, swelling, sneezing and hives. These side effects can be treated with anti-itch creams, ice and other topical solutions. - Many patients do not continue their treatment regimen because of the frequent doctor visits required. This renders the allergy treatment useless. In patients with extreme allergic symptoms, the treatment may not completely eradicate the allergy. However, the reduction in symptoms can improve the quality of life of the patient and prevent fatal allergic reactions.
- Individuals with severe allergies to multiple substances should consider allergy therapy, especially if prescribed medications have had little effect. In rare instances, a person may be required to cease allergy medication due to conflicting reactions with another prescription. In these cases, allergy shots can usually be taken with minimal effect. Usually, only patients who have suffered from allergies for an extended period of time, usually five years or more, are recommended for allergy shots.