Blog

Back to main blog page

Immunotherapy for Hay Fever

Immunotherapy for Hay Fever

With the remarkably high pollen counts this year, hay fever seems to be more of a problem than ever. Whilst many suffer only mild symptoms, for an important minority, the impact on quality of life can be very significant, despite good advice about taking antihistamines and nasal sprays. For those patients whose symptoms remain troublesome, despite these medications, or for those who prefer not to rely on them, immunotherapy presents a good alternative solution that is becoming increasingly popular.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy (or desensitisation) is not a new approach – giving small but increasing amounts of the allergen (such as grass or tree pollen) in the months before the season as a way to reduce the strength of the allergic response. Traditionally, injections of allergen were used but this involves numerous visits to the doctor and can have serious side effects. More recently, studies have shown that sublingual immunotherapy (where the allergen is squirted under the tongue) has been shown to have a very similar effect but much safer. It can also be given at home.

“Recent studies have also strongly suggested that desensitisation can reduce the risk of developing asthma (which is as high as 50% in children with hay fever) as well as significantly improving hay fever symptoms in the long term.“

Three years of immunotherapy treatment (usually for six months of the year) can provide benefit for a number of years after the treatment stops. Recent studies exploring the link with asthma used an enormous prescription database from Germany. This study showed a significant reduction in the development of asthma symptoms in those who had been treated with pollen immunotherapy and in those who already had asthma, a reduction in the amount of asthma medicine they needed. Sublingual immunotherapy is a safe treatment which can before reduce hay fever symptoms and also go some way to halting the allergic march – the all too common progression from hay fever to asthma.

Share this Page

Send us a Message

Our Locations

The Portland Hospital

2nd Floor
215 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 5PN

View Map
London Bridge Hospital,
The Shard

32 St Thomas Street
London
SE1 9BS

View Map
Centennial Medical Care

Unit 509 Centennial Park
Centennial Way
Elstree
WD6 3FG

View Map
Great Ormond St Hospital

International and Private Care
The Harris International Patient Centre
Great Ormond Street
London
WC1N 3JH

View Map
The Wellington Hospital Elstree Waterfront Outpatients Centre

The Waterfront Business Park
Beaufort House
Elstree Road
Elstree
WD6 3BS

View Map
9 Harley Street

London W1G 9QY

View Map
Trustpilot
Send us a message