Allergy vaccines are commonly called immunotherapy. They are made so that the human body can better fight infections and bacteria that cause an allergic reaction. They are shown to people who have severe allergic reactions, and this happens at least three months a year. Vaccinations against allergies as such do not completely save from it, they only strengthen the human immunity, helping the body cope with allergens.
The composition of the vaccine
Before starting treatment, doctors determine which of the allergens provokes unpleasant symptoms in a particular case. After this, a special preparation is prepared, which in essence acts as a diluted allergen solution. The composition of such a drug often includes immunomodulators that potentiate the effect of the drug.
How is it administered?
The medicine is administered by subcutaneous injection, as well as by instilling a solution into the nasal passage or into the mouth. Injections are the most reliable method, because the patient will definitely receive all the necessary dosage of the drug.
At the beginning of therapy, the most minimal doses of the drug are used, which subsequently increase. The highest concentration of allergens of the administered drug occurs at the last injection. A maintenance dose of the drug is administered at regular intervals. It is worth noting that the supporting course is quite long and ranges from three to five years.
Is it possible to vaccinate an allergy, many are interested.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy and prevention of the expansion of the list of allergens
ASIT is a method of antiallergic therapy and consists in the introduction of increasing doses of the allergen, to which hypersensitivity is established. Only such immunotherapy acts on any significant links of allergic processes and has a long prophylactic effect after the completion of the treatment course.
The purpose of this technique is to reduce sensitivity to significant causative allergens, which is manifested in a decrease or in the absolute absence of clinical symptoms with a natural exposure of pathogenic pathogens. The clinical efficacy of this method is confirmed by placebo-controlled trials. In the course of such studies, the obvious advantages of specific immunotherapy over other treatment methods are determined:
- Continued long-term remission after completion of a successful course of ASIT.
- The extension of the spectrum of allergens to which hypersensitivity is established is prevented.
- The aggravation of the course of the disease is prevented. It also becomes impossible to switch the milder clinical manifestation of allergies (for example, rhinitis) to more severe (in bronchial asthma).
- Reduced need for antiallergic drugs.
Next, we find out how often you will have to visit a doctor and what is the dosage of an injectable drug in case of taking a course of vaccinations against a particular allergic reaction.
Vaccination conditions and dosage
Allergies are given for several months in a row. When carrying out such treatment, you need to visit a doctor twice a week. The dose of the drug is initially minimal, and then gradually increases - until the patient selects the optimal rate. In the event that the vaccine brings relief, it is necessary to visit the doctor for several years four times a week. During therapy, the symptoms of allergies worsen and may stop altogether.
How to prepare for vaccinations?
Before vaccination against allergies for two hours, as well as after the same amount of time after it, it is forbidden to exercise, and in general it is necessary to limit physical activity. When engaged in physical activity, blood rushes to the tissues, and antigens, in turn, are very quickly released into the blood stream.
Vaccinations are usually incompatible with a number of drugs, for example, they should not be combined with beta-blockers. These drugs, against the background of an allergy vaccine, can increase the risks of side effects. Therefore, immediately before undergoing such a course of therapy, you should tell your doctor about all the drugs that a person takes. No less attentive should be taken to the course of vaccinations in the presence of pregnancy or if a woman plans to conceive.
What to expect after vaccinations?
Thirty minutes after vaccination, it is necessary to undergo an examination with a doctor in order to identify possible adverse reactions in the form of a runny nose, sore throat, itching and general malaise. Such symptoms may occur after the patient leaves the doctor. If this happens, then you need to return to the medical institution where the vaccination was performed.
The occurrence of local irritation at the vaccination site along with swelling and redness is considered normal if these symptoms disappear a maximum of eight hours after the injection.
Are they allergic to flowering?
Allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT) can reduce a person’s sensitivity to a particular allergen, and thus the severity of external manifestations is reduced, as well as the risk of “aggravation” of allergies - the development of bronchial asthma.
Its essence lies in the subcutaneous administration of increasing doses of a causally significant allergen. ASIT is carried out before the beginning of the flowering season. Such treatment is recommended for three to five years.
Vaccination Effectiveness
Immunotherapy is effective enough to combat allergies to insect bites. But to date, there is no data on how effective this method is if a person has a food allergy.
What is important to know about vaccinations for egg allergies?
If the baby is intolerant of chicken protein, then all vaccines that are made on the basis of the chicken embryo are contraindicated for such a patient.
The doctor needs to call if symptoms develop after vaccination, which is caused by side effects of the drug.
Vaccination schedule for children
You can get an allergy vaccine in all medical institutions of the country that have an allergy department.
The schedule of vaccinations should be individual. The child is vaccinated exclusively against the background of absolute health with additional safety protection with anti-allergic medicines. As a rule, antihistamines are prescribed three days before the vaccine and within twelve days after it.
In the event that a child becomes ill with something, one must be very careful in choosing medicines for him. They do not recommend the use of popular and well-known products in the form of honey, mustard plasters, propolis, mummy, collecting pollen from plants, rubbing with turpentine and other irritating liquids. Of antibiotics, penicillin is not recommended.
Vaccine allergy treatment is becoming more popular every day.
Subject to the consistent observance of the listed preventive procedures, it is possible to prevent, and at the same time, significantly weaken or postpone the clinical symptoms of an allergic disease to a later age. In addition, the prevention of food allergies simultaneously acts as a way to prevent other forms of reactions. In a number of patients, this can still serve as a prophylaxis of excessive respiratory morbidity.
What do specialists think about vaccines against allergies? About it further.
Reviews of allergy sufferers and specialists
Too many patients complain that absolutely nothing helps them from an allergic reaction. Doctors, in turn, focus on the fact that people after taking the course of vaccinations often expect an instant effect and result. But, as experts say, this simply does not happen, and everything takes time along with the development of appropriate protective reactions by the body. Vaccination does not relieve a person of such, but prompts the body to respond more effectively to a pathogenic pathogen, so that in most situations, acute symptoms are significantly reduced.
In reviews of allergy vaccinations, patients write that allergen-specific immunotherapy in itself implies prolonged treatment. Someone reports an improvement that comes after only one year course. But, as most patients say, they needed to undergo at least three, or even four, courses, that is, they had to take injections for several years in order to get a stable result. And someone, judging by the reviews, has to visit a doctor for five years.
Doctors in their comments emphasize that if a person has an allergic reaction at least once, this already indicates that the patient has sensitization (i.e. hypersensitivity) to a specific allergen. And this already means that the allergy itself, which arose once, will not go away. And when it reappears, it is simply unknown. Thus, in such a situation, you must consult a doctor and take a course of appropriate vaccinations.