Content
The anti-allergic vaccine, also called specific immunotherapy, is a treatment capable of controlling allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, and consists of the administration of injections with allergens, which are administered in increasing doses, in order to reduce the sensitivity of person allergic to those allergens that cause rhinitis.
Allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances that the body understands as invasive and harmful. The people most likely to have allergies are those who have respiratory diseases like asthma, rhinitis or sinusitis.
In addition to allergic rhinitis, specific immunotherapy may also be applied to conditions such as allergic conjunctivitis, allergic asthma, latex allergy, allergic reactions to insect bite venom or other IgE-mediated hypersensitivity diseases.
How it works
The administration of the vaccine must be individualized for each patient.The choice of allergen must be made by identifying specific IgE antibodies, through allergological tests, which allow a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the allergy to be made, giving preference to environmental allergens prevalent in the region where the person lives.
The initial dose should be adapted to the person's sensitivity and then the doses should be progressively increased and administered at regular intervals, until a maintenance dose is reached.
The treatment time can vary from one person to another, because the treatment is individualized. These injections are generally well tolerated and do not produce serious side effects, and in some cases skin rash and redness may occur.
Who can do the treatment
Immunotherapy is indicated for people who suffer from exaggerated allergic reactions, which can be controlled.
The most suitable situations to perform this type of treatment in people with allergic rhinitis are:
- Medicines or preventive measures are not enough to control exposure;
- The person does not want to take medication in the long term;
- Intolerance to side effects of drug treatment;
- In addition to rhinitis, the person also suffers from asthma.
Learn how to identify asthma symptoms.
Who should not do the treatment
Treatment should not be performed in people with corticosteroid-dependent asthma, severe atopic dermatitis, pregnant women, the elderly under 2 years of age and the elderly.
In addition, specific immunotherapy is also not recommended for people with autoimmune diseases, severe psychiatric disorders, who use adrenergic beta-blockers, with non-IgE-mediated allergic disease and risk conditions for the use of epinephrine.
Possible side effects
Some of the effects that can occur during treatment, especially 30 minutes after receiving the injections are erythema, swelling and itching at the injection site, sneezing, coughing, diffuse erythema, hives and difficulty breathing.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- Guidelines for Specific Immunotherapy. Rev Port Immunoallergology. Vol.19. 4.ed; 100-213, 2011
- Nunes, Carlos et. al .. Guidelines for Specific Immunotherapy. PORTUGUESE MAGAZINE OF IMMUNOALERGOLOGY. 19. 4; 199-213, 2011
- BRAZILIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND FEDERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL. Allergies: Specific Immunotherapy. 2002. Available at:. Accessed on 12 Nov 2019
- IAPO'S PEDIATRIC OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY MANUAL. Specific immunotherapy with allergens in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Available in: . Accessed on 20 Mar 2020