When avoidance of allergens isn’t possible, or asthma medications aren’t working, allergen immunotherapy can be very effective for the treatment of asthma. Many studies support the benefits of allergy shots for the treatment of asthma, and national guidelines for asthma management include allergy shots as a treatment for mild to moderate severity asthma.
Unlike asthma medicines, which act only to "cover up" symptoms or prevent them temporarily, allergy shots fix the underlying problem of allergies. When a person is injected with the substance they're allergic to, their immune system treats the injection like a vaccine. That is, the body produces IgG (infection fighting antibodies) against the allergens. This then "turns off" the production of IgE (allergic antibodies) against the allergens.
In addition, the immune system becomes "tolerant" of the allergens as a result of the allergy shots, reacting in a less allergic way over time. All of these immune changes result in a decrease of allergy symptoms, and these effects can last for many years even after stopping allergy shots.
While allergy shots can reduce or eliminate the need for asthma medications, a person’s asthma needs to be relatively well-controlled prior to taking allergy shots. This is because of the potential for anaphylaxis, a side effect from allergy shots, which can worsen asthma and rarely result in life-threatening allergic reactions.
Generally speaking, allergy shots are a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of asthma -– but allergy shots are not for people with severe or difficult-to-control asthma.
Sources:
Abramson MH, Puy RM, Weiner JM. Injection allergen immunotherapy for asthma. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 8.
Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. 2007. Website Accessed August 8, 2010.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Allergen Immunotherapy Practice Parameters. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2003; 90:S1-40.
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