Allergies in children are common; over 30% of children have an allergy, making it one of the most common chronic diseases among children. As a parent, you might feel helpless when your child is suffering from allergies. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help them find relief. Below, we review pediatric allergies and how immunotherapy can help.
What Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is a long-term allergy treatment option that is ideal for people with severe, year-round allergies. Immunotherapy works by introducing small amounts of allergen extracts into the body so the immune system can build up a tolerance over time. There are two types of immunotherapy: subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots) and sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops).
Is Immunotherapy Safe for Children?
Yes! Both allergy shots and allergy drops are completely safe for children. Whether you choose shots or drops may depend on your child’s allergy, its severity and their own preferences (unsurprisingly, many children prefer the more pleasant-tasting drops to shots on a monthly basis).
There are very few risks with immunotherapy, and most people—children and adults—don’t have any issues. The biggest potential issue is a minor reaction after a dose, as it contains the substance to which your child is sensitive. This may include itchiness or swelling at the injection site, or sneezing or stomach upset after taking allergy drops.
Why Should I Start Immunotherapy for My Child?
For some kids, their allergies may be manageable by avoiding their triggers and taking over-the-counter allergy medications. But for others, there are very good reasons to pursue immunotherapy.
- Severe allergies. If your child’s allergies are severe or life-threatening enough to warrant emergency medications, such as an EpiPen or an inhaler, immunotherapy is a good option to reduce the severity and make everyday living easier.
- Allergies are worsening. Allergy development tends to progress in a particular order as the child grows, in a phenomenon known as the “allergic march.” You may have been aware of your child’s allergies for years, but as they grow and develop, new symptoms may appear, or their existing symptoms might get more severe. You can get ahead of this worsening by beginning immunotherapy.
- Over-the-counter medications aren’t helping. Many kids feel relief with a daily antihistamine, but if that’s not controlling your child’s symptoms, you may need something stronger.
- They impact quality of life. Children love to play and be active. You don’t want them to be kept indoors or miss out on a fun activity because of allergy concerns. Immunotherapy is a great way to reclaim their childhood.
How Effective Is Immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy is incredibly effective, especially for pediatric patients. Allergy shots have been shown to decrease symptoms of many allergies. Here’s what the research says:
- One systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in Europe and published in 2022 found that providing immunotherapy to young allergy patients before they develop asthma (a lung condition that can cause trouble breathing, shortness of breath and other severe respiratory symptoms) may help protect them from developing the condition in the future.
- Another 2022 study investigated how immunotherapy affects people with eczema triggered by a dust mite allergy and found that allergy drops showed significant symptom improvement.
How Can I Start Immunotherapy for My Child?
The first step in beginning an immunotherapy regimen is to have your child undergo allergy testing. Allergy testing, like immunotherapy itself, is perfectly safe for children. There are a few different types of allergy tests that allergists can use to evaluate pediatric allergies. The two skin tests are the most common:
- Skin prick. The allergist will lightly prick or scratch your child’s skin with a small amount of a potential allergen to see if a reaction occurs.
- Intradermal. The allergist will place a small amount of a potential allergen under the topmost layer of skin using a needle, like a very shallow shot.
The allergy test will likely be performed on your child’s upper back. They may spend a long time lying on their stomach while the test is performed and while you await results (which takes about 15 to 20 minutes). Once results are in, the allergist will make their recommendations, and you can get immunotherapy underway.
The scratch (if a skin prick test) or the shot (if an intradermal test) should not hurt your child, but an allergic reaction may be itchy. Scratching can skew the results, so help your child resist the urge to scratch. To prepare, it’s a good idea to bring lots of toys, books or snacks to keep them distracted.
If you’re interested in scheduling an allergy test for your child and getting them started on a life-changing allergy treatment plan, call us at Albany ENT & Allergy Services to schedule an appointment. We’re available to answer any questions you have and look forward to helping your child find lasting relief from their symptoms.