What is atopic immunotherapy?
Specific immunotherapy (also known as standardized desensitization) is the only allopathic treatment recommended by the World Health Organization and the Global Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology to modify the immune mechanism of allergic patients. This method involves giving standardized desensitization vaccines to allergic patients over a period of time, starting with a low dose and increasing the dose with a certain course of treatment, and reaching the optimal maintenance dose for the patient within about 3 months, and then maintaining the treatment with a frequency of 1-2 monthly injections (according to the progress of the course of treatment). After a certain period of time (usually 3-5 years), the patient will not develop allergic symptoms even if he/she is exposed to the allergen in his/her life again.
Role of specific immunotherapy.
Reduces or disappears allergy symptoms, reduces the frequency of rhinitis and asthma attacks, and improves the quality of life.
Prevent the development of allergic rhinitis into asthma.
Maintain long-term efficacy even after standardized desensitization treatment is completed.
Reduce the use of hormones and other symptomatic drugs, effectively avoiding the adverse reactions caused by long-term medication, especially the possible effects on the growth and development of children.
Improves allergic constitution and interrupts the development of new allergies
Reduce the total cost of treatment and reduce the financial burden on the family.
Who is suitable to receive immunotherapy (desensitization)?
Those who have a clear allergen but cannot completely avoid exposure (e.g. mite allergy)
Antihistamines and topical medications are not sufficient to control symptoms.
Do not wish to be treated with medication.
Have been on medication for a long time and have experienced severe drug reactions.
Who is not a good candidate for immunotherapy (desensitization)?
Patients should not undergo desensitization therapy if they are in a severe immunopathological state or have a malignancy.
Adrenaline is contraindicated: for example, immunotherapy should not be used in coronary artery disease, severe arterial hypertension and when treated with beta-blockers.
Lack of collaboration and severe psychological disorders.
Immunotherapy in young children (children younger than 5 years) should be carried out only by specialists who have specialized in the treatment of allergic reactions in specific age groups.
Immunotherapy should not be initiated during pregnancy. In already initiated and well-tolerated immunotherapy, the risk of anaphylaxis is low, at which point, if pregnancy occurs, treatment can be continued.
Patients with FEV1 <80%< span="">expected values may have poorer clinical outcomes and more side effects from immunotherapy.
Severe atopic dermatitis should be treated for the primary disease before starting immunotherapy.
Duration of immunotherapy :
Starting phase: 2-3 months, starting with the smallest dose, either by injection or orally, and gradually increasing the maximum dose, usually in 1-week increments, and the maintenance phase: 2-3 years, when the dose is increased to the maximum dose and then maintained at the maximum dose for 2-3 years.
During the initial phase, when the antibodies formed in the body by immunotherapy are not sufficient to resist the allergic reactions caused by environmental allergens, the allergic symptoms may be obvious, so during the initial phase, oral anti-allergic drugs or nasal sprays may be taken to control the allergic symptoms; generally, nasal sprays or oral drugs are used within 1 month of the initial phase; when sufficient antibodies are formed in the body by immunotherapy to fight against IgE in the body, that is. Almost 1 month after the vaccine, you can gradually stop the nasal spray or oral anti-allergy medication and only take the vaccine orally at this time.