With a desensitization you calm down annoying allergies: You can find out more about types of therapy, effects and requirements here.
Allergies to certain substances from the environment can promote chronic diseases such as asthma *.
Desensitization equips the immune system with the necessary "instruments" to alleviate symptoms in the long term.
How the specific immunotherapy works, works - and when it is suitable for those affected.
Watery eyes, runny nose, itchy skin:
Unfortunately,
if you have an
allergic reaction
, you are
overly sensitive to certain substances
.
Whether pollen, insect venom or food - if your body comes into contact with the so-called allergen, the immune system of those affected forms allergy antibodies.
When you come into contact again, your body reacts with typical symptoms.
A
desensitization promises to help
- even in the longer term.
The WHO declared this method to be the most effective treatment method in allergology back in 1997.
Desensitization: This is how the allergy vaccination works on your immune system
The
immunotherapy,
also referred to as desensitization or specific immunotherapy (SIT), the immune system of the patient to
adjust to the particular allergen gradually
. First, a small amount of the corresponding allergen extract - the allergy-triggering protein - is supplied to the body. The
hypersensitivity to the allergen diminishes
.
The treatment aims to activate certain components of the immune system, such as specific antibodies, messenger substances and immune cells.
These
weaken the immune system's reaction to the stimulus
and block the allergic processes in the tissue.
The amount of allergen is permanently increased in the course of the desensitization up to the highest dose (the so-called maintenance dose).
This allows your body to
develop
a
tolerance to the allergen
in question.
Most patients live
long-term symptom-free
after desensitization
.
They prevent chronic diseases such as asthma and prevent particularly severe allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock.
Read more
: Allergic shock: the risk increases in spring - these symptoms herald anaphylaxis
Are there any side effects from being desensitized?
Most of the side effects, such as redness, rash, or itching at the injection site (or, for sublingual therapy, the mouth)
resolve quickly
and do not require treatment.
Since
a general allergic reaction or
allergic shock
can occur
in rare cases
, it is recommended to stay with the doctor in the waiting room for 30 minutes.
In this way, possible side effects can be discussed and treated immediately.
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Survey on the subject of allergy
This is how desensitization works
If you suffer from symptoms all year round, you can start and continue a desensitization at any time.
If you are allergic to pollen, late summer or autumn are the perfect time to start with SIT - a few months before the pollen season.
There are two
types of hypersensitization:
The classic form is
subcutaneous immunotherapy
(SCIT for short): the allergy-triggering extract is injected under the skin.
It is particularly useful for
pollen, house dust mite and insect venom allergies
with severe symptoms.
A relatively new form of desensitization is
sublingual immunotherapy
(SLIT for short): The allergen is placed under the tongue as drops or tablets.
This desensitization method, which has not yet been researched, has already
proven
itself in the case of
grass and tree pollen allergies
.
In addition, it can be used in patients for whom
therapy with a syringe is not possible
.
The
classic desensitization
takes place in the doctor's office.
It usually lasts
up to three years
(up to five years for insect venom allergies!) And consists of
two phases
:
Increase phase
, also called initial treatment: Here the allergen
extract is injected under the skin above the elbow
, usually
in
increasing doses
every
week
.
The time intervals between the injections can vary between three days and two weeks - depending on the type of solution and individual tolerance.
Maintenance
therapy begins when the patient tolerates the therapy without side effects and the highest dose has been reached.
From this time onwards, the doctor will inject
the maximum amount of
the solution
every
month
.
As your immune system gets used to the allergen in question, it stabilizes.
In the case of
sublingual
desensitization, the first intake takes place in the doctor's office.
If you tolerate it well, you will usually administer the preparation
yourself
at
home
-
and that
every day for another three years
.
Also interesting
: This is how desensitization works in children.
When desensitization makes sense - and when you should avoid it
The prerequisite for desensitization is that the allergy has been
clearly diagnosed
as such
.
It is primarily used for immediate type allergies (type I allergy) - when symptoms occur immediately after contact with the allergen.
As a rule of thumb,
specific immunotherapy is recommended
if
You have had the typical symptoms for more than two years,
these are moderate to difficult,
You cannot permanently avoid contact with allergenic substances and
the benefits of therapy are greater than the risks.
According to Apotheken Umschau, you should rather avoid desensitization if the
following contraindications
are present:
uncontrolled asthma
severe cardiovascular disease
Therapy with beta blockers
severe autoimmune diseases
active cancers
pregnancy
There are now guidelines for specific immunotherapy, which list the available preparations and the studies that have been carried out.
Text: Olga Krockauer
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