Tell me all about allergy shots

Introduction

The concept behind immunotherapy (allergy shots) is that the immune system can be desensitized to specific allergens that trigger allergy symptoms.


The allergen(s) are identified through a combination of a medical evaluation performed by a trained allergist/immunologist and allergy diagnostic testing (skin or allergy blood tests).

Allergy immunotherapy is a proven effective treatment for allergic rhinitis (nasal symptoms), allergic asthma and stinging insect allergy. It also may be effective in some individuals with atopic dermatitis (eczema) if they have allergies to airborne allergens. Currently, immunotherapy for food allergies is not recommended and strict avoidance of the food is advised although investigations with oral desensitization for food allergies are in progress in the United States.

Immunotherapy can potentially lead to lasting remission of allergy symptoms, and it may play a preventive role in the development of asthma and new allergies.

Who Can Benefit From Allergy Shots?

Both children and adults can receive allergy shots, although it is not typically recommended for children under age five. This is because of the difficulties younger children may have in cooperating with the program and in articulating any adverse symptoms they may be experiencing. When considering allergy shots for an older adult, medical conditions such as cardiac disease should be taken into consideration and discussed with your allergist / immunologist first.

You and your allergist / immunologist should base your decision regarding allergy shots on:

• Length of allergy season and severity of your symptoms

• How well medications and/or environmental controls are helping your allergy symptoms

• Your desire to avoid long-term medication use

• Time available for treatment (allergy shots requires a significant commitment)

• Cost, which may vary depending on region and insurance coverage

Allergy shots are not used to treat food allergies. The best option for people with food allergies is to strictly avoid that food.

How Do Allergy Shots Work?

Allergy shots work like a vaccine. Your body responds to injected amounts of a particular allergen, given in gradually increasing doses, by developing immunity or tolerance to the allergen.

There are two phases:

• 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.

• Maintenance phase. This begins once the effective dose is reached. The effective maintenance dose depends on your level of allergen sensitivity and your response to the build-up phase. During the maintenance phase, there will be longer periods of time between treatments, ranging from two to four weeks. Your allergist / immunologist will decide what range is best for you.

You may notice a decrease in symptoms during the build-up phase, but it may take as long as 12 months on the maintenance dose to notice an improvement. If allergy shots are successful, maintenance treatment is generally continued for three to five years. Any decision to stop allergy shots should be discussed with your allergist / immunologist.

How Effective Are Allergy Shots?

Allergy shots have shown to decrease symptoms of many allergies. It can prevent the development of new allergies, and in children it can prevent the progression of allergic disease from allergic rhinitis to asthma. The effectiveness of allergy shots appears to be related to the length of the treatment program as well as the dose of the allergen. Some people experience lasting relief from allergy symptoms, while others may relapse after discontinuing allergy shots. If you have not seen improvement after a year of maintenance therapy, your allergist / immunologist will work with you to discuss treatment options.

Failure to respond to allergy shots may be due to several factors:

• Inadequate dose of allergen in the allergy vaccine

• Missing allergens not identified during the allergy evaluation

• High levels of allergen in the environment

• Significant exposure to non-allergic triggers, such as tobacco smoke

Where Should Allergy Shots Be Given?

This type of treatment should be supervised by a specialized physician in a facility equipped with proper staff and equipment to identify and treat adverse reactions to allergy injections. Ideally, immunotherapy should be given in your allergist / immunologist's office. If this is not possible, your allergist / immunologist should provide the supervising physician with comprehensive instructions about your allergy shot treatments.

Are There Risks?

A typical reaction is redness and swelling at the injection site. This can happen immediately or several hours after the treatment. In some instances, symptoms can include increased allergy symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion or hives.

Serious reactions to allergy shots are rare. When they do occur, they require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction can include swelling in the throat, wheezing or tightness in the chest, nausea and dizziness. Most serious reactions develop within 30 minutes of the allergy injections. This is why it is recommended you wait in your doctor's office for at least 30 minutes after you receive allergy shots.

Medical content developed and reviewed by the leading experts in allergy, asthma and immunology.

© 2012 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/library/allergy-library/allergy-shots-(immunotherapy).aspx

Tired of your hay fever symptoms? Are the symptoms interfering with life? Consider allergy shots. Contact Dr. Moffat at 801-501-2130 for a consult today.

Taking on allergy eye symptoms

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/ss/slideshow-eye-allergies?ecd=wnl_lbt_042413&ctr=wnl-lbt-042413_ld-stry_3&mb=2uPDZm2ipSWNHOzcCfMpPOHnVev1imbCVt4nKTUpgfM%3d

What is Allergic Rhinitis?

Find out if you or those around you have it and if it is contagious...

http://intermountainhealthcare.org/health-resources/health-topics/healthwise/content/hw33436/allergic-rhinitis.aspx#hw33438

Climate Change and Its Effects on Allergic Disease

Author:  Dr. Craig M. Moffat

Climate change and its effects on the environment is a much discussed and hotly debated issue.  No matter what our position, it is interesting to speculate on the effects climate change may have on the nearly 10-20% of earth’s inhabitants who suffer from respiratory allergic disease.  A recently published American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Committee Paper examined some of the anticipated effects of climate change relevant to allergies and allergy suffers (Barnes CS, et al.  Climate change and our environment:  The effect on respiratory and allergic disease.  J Allergy Clin Immunol:  In Practice 2013;1:137-41).

While difficult to predict, according to this article, some of the anticipated changes that could occur specifically regarding respiratory allergies with climate warming and higher levels of greenhouse gases may include:

1.       Longer pollen seasons, with increased morbidity from respiratory allergies.  This view is supported by Scandinavian studies on duration and pollen concentrations associated with birch tree pollination over 20-33 years.

2.       Altered distribution of pollenating plants into new areas, including above former tree lines, leading to broader distribution

3.       Increased CO2 leading to earlier plant flowering and higher pollen concentrations.  Studies indicate with CO2 levels double, ragweed plant pollen production increases 30-90%.

4.       Increased ozone from hot sunny days leading to more symptoms for those at risk for asthma

5.       Increased mold production with rising sea levels and altered rainfall patterns

6.       Heightened  stinging and biting insect frequencies, especially with population in new areas

7.       Efforts to improve energy efficiency in home building may lead to superinsulation strategies and reduced exchange of indoor/outdoor air, indoor moisture accumulation, the effects of which may result in increased indoor respiratory allergen exposure and sensitization to dust mites and molds

Although not allergens, indoor air pollutants resulting from tighter homes increase including volatile organic compounds, radon gas, water vapor, smoke particulates and protein allergens.  Rising concentrations may enhance the genesis of respiratory allergy problems in persons at risk.  Air pollutants including rising ozone concentrations and particulates as well as altered forest fire patterns have been associated with rising prevalence of respiratory disease.  Recently more than 12% of Arizona adults in urban Phoenix were told by a health care professional they currently have asthma (typically 5% of the population), and 59% of adults with asthma reported an attack within the past year.  Rising air pollutants have resulted in greater “red burn” days due to ozone and particulates in large urban and suburban areas in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains, which in turn is associated with a rising incidence of acute respiratory exacerbations of asthma.  Our attempts to mitigate and invoke “green” practices may actually exacerbate the problem, including composting facilities increasing fungal burdens, as well as increased use of biodiesel fuels and wood burning heat sources worsening greenhouse gases and particulates production.

While scientific evidence is emerging of the association between climate change and the environment regarding airborne allergens, our understanding of these effects on the scope and degree of human disease needs further investigation and clarification.  While affecting only a portion of the world’s population, the outcomes could be profound in a group who already suffer significantly from the environment.

Does my child have a cold or allergies?

He's got a runny nose, a cough, and congestion. So has he caught a cold or is it allergies? Unfortunately, it's often hard to tell -- even for doctors. But here's information that may help you and your family...

http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/common-cold-or-allergy-symptoms


Check out the pollen count.  Your symptoms may be due to tree pollen allergies.  If you would like help, come see Dr. Moffat, 801-501-2130.

What is wrong with me?

I have these symptoms:
•    Itching in the nose, roof of the mouth, throat, eyes
•    Sneezing
•    Stuffy nose (congestion)
•    Runny nose
•    Tearing eyes
•    Dark circles under the eyes

Do you too? 

We have allergic rhinitis or hayfever.  Hay fever symptoms tend to flare up in the spring and fall. Perennial allergic rhinitis symptoms are year-long.

What happens in our bodies when we have this condtion?  What triggers this condition?  Most importantly, what can we do to treat this condition? 

For the answers go to   http://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/allergies/rhinitis.aspx

POLLEN COUNTS ARE BACK!!!