Treatment of Allergies 

An allergy can only be treated causally by the allergen immunotherapy

The symptoms of allergies should not be downplayed as harmless and possibly annoying symptoms. There is a risk that the inflammation underlying any allergic type 1 disease will spread to the deeper respiratory tract, the bronchi. Thus, bronchial asthma can develop from the supposedly ‘banal’ allergy. This aggravation is observed by medical professionals in at least 40% of all respiratory allergy sufferers, who are not or not timely supplied to a causal treatment.

Which forms of treatment are possible? 

The best way to complete freedom from symptoms is the consistent avoidance of disease-causing allergens. For the most allergens this is not possible, e.g. pollen, house dust mites, certain mold fungi and some animal hair. Where allergen avoidance cannot be strictly adhered to, the allergen immunotherapy (AIT), formerly known as hypo- or desensitization, is a further causal treatment option. This therapy has the potential to completely cure or at least significantly alleviate your symptoms.

What is an ‘allergen immunotherapy’? 

Until today Allergen Immunotherapy is the only treatment option against the cause of the allergic disease. Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) is also commonly known as allergy vaccination, hypo- or desensitization. It is a form of treatment in which natural ingredients of e.g. substances from birch pollen are administered to a birch pollen allergy sufferer.

This treatment is specific because only the triggering allergens are administered. Medical professionals refer to it as immunotherapy because it rebalances the immune system from sick (allergy) to healthy (no allergy). In the allergen immunotherapy we distinguish two different forms of therapy: subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) 

The widely most used and by scientists best studied form of allergen immunotherapy, is the administration of injections. The allergen solution is injected under the skin on the outside of the upper arm. Typically, the allergen immunotherapy has an initial and a maintenance period. During the initial treatment injections are usually given once a week with increasing allergen dose.

When your maximum individual dose is reached, the maintenance treatment includes monthly injections by your doctor with the highest individual dose over a 3 years period to train your immune system permanently not to react. Your doctor will decide on the individual procedure and discuss the therapy intensively with you.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) 

As an alternative application, drop therapy has been developed especially for children and sensitive people. The drops containing the natural allergen proteins are administered from a bottle under the tongue and kept in the mouth for two to three minutes before swallowing. In this way, the active ingredients are best absorbed via the oral mucosa. As directed by your doctor, the drops should be taken in increasing numbers, up to an individual maximum level e.g. 5 drops per day. This maximum level is then continued daily over a longer period.

When and how long will the allergen immunotherapy take place? 

Treatment can be started at the age of about 5 years, if relevant allergic symptoms are present. A strong treatment success is already after the first season perceptible. For a long lasting and preventative therapy success allergen immunotherapy is recommended over a period of 3 years The exact time to start your doctor will determine together with you.

The earlier the allergen immunotherapy is started, the better the chances of success

The treatment time is usually about 3 years, but already in the 1st year of treatment, you will experience a noticeable improvement. The duration depends on how well the allergen solution administered in increasing dosage is tolerated and how quickly the symptoms decrease. However, a rapid decrease in symptoms should not induce you to prematurely stop the therapy, as long-term success depends crucially on the duration of the therapy. The period of 3-5 years sounds long, but keep in mind that the drug therapy, e.g. with cortisone, must be carried out lifelong and is not free of side effects. The close collaboration between patient and doctor is very important.

Life after the allergy

A treatment with an Allergen Immunotherapy can be called successful, when the patient no longer has any symptoms at the end of the therapy or the symptoms have been significantly alleviated. Of course, treatment success also depends on the age of the patient and the severity of the condition at the time the therapy is started. In addition, the allergens used play a role.

For the patient with a pollen allergy, this means that he can enjoy spring and summer without hay fever or with at most minor symptoms and the development of asthma was prevented. In the treatment of pollen allergies, the success rate is between 80 and 90%. The house dust mite allergy sufferer will be able to sleep well at night, especially during the winter months, without any significant adverse effects. Here the success rate is between 70 and 80%. The bee or wasp venom allergic will be able to stay outdoors without fear of stings in the summer. With a success rate of 90-100%, the allergen immunotherapy with bee or wasp venom shows the best results. In general, allergen immunotherapy is very successful in 70-85% of all cases.