Immunotherapy (Desensitization or Hyposensitization)

Immunotherapy is still the only causal therapy for hay fever, allergic asthma and insect venom allergies.

The body gets gradually used to the allergen to avoid an immune overreaction to allergen contacts in the future – the therapy leads to a kind of re-programming of the immune system. If patients for this therapy are carefully selected, there is a good success rate (80-95%). Therefore an allergy specialist should determine if this therapy is indicated. Besides reducing symptoms and preventing more severe symptoms, an immunotherapy prevents the onset of other allergic diseases. The costs are covered by the health insurance.

Immunotherapy is started with weekly shots of an allergen containing solution in the upper arm, each dose being stronger than the last one. The maintenance dose is achieved in two to three months at which point the shots are continued in intervals of one to two months. The treatment takes a total of about three to five years.

For pollen allergies there is an alternative short-term therapy consisting of 8 shots administered just before the pollen season. Another alternative are allergen solutions or sublingual tablets which are taken daily at home. Both therapies must also be administered for at least three years.

Children can also be successfully treated with immunotherapy; starting with oral solutions in preschool and with shots in school children. In severe cases, such as severe insect venom allergies, treatment can already be started with toddlers.