It's often difficult to cure respiratory allergies of children completely. Undergoing three to five years treatment with allergy shots or allergen immunotherapy is one of the methods that help in long term control of allergic asthma.
According to a new study, three years immunotherapy is enough to control the dust mite induced allergies plus asthma and the rest two years does not provide any additional benefit.
"The recommended duration of immunotherapy for long-term effectiveness has been three to five years," Iwona Stelmach, lead author of the study said in a news release. "Our research shows that three years is an adequate duration for the treatment of childhood asthma associated with house dust mites. An additional two years adds no clinical benefit."
Allergy shots (Immunotherapy) are a long-term treatment used to reduce symptoms for people suffering from allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and conjunctivitis or stinging insect allergy. The treatment is known for the lasting relief it provides of allergy symptoms even after discontinuing the treatment.
"It has long been observed that the effectiveness of allergy shots continue long after treatment has been completed," said allergist James Sublett, chair of the ACAAI Indoor Environment Committee. "This study is among the first to look at the benefits of different lengths of therapy. Not only does it provide long-term therapeutic benefits for both children and adults, it can reduce total healthcare costs by 33 to 41 percent."
Findings of the study have been published in the October issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
According to Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), nearly 20 percent of Americans or one in every five adults and children have allergies.
Nearly 70 percent of children with asthma also experience allergy related problems. In some children with allergy, the immune system overreacts to some substances in the atmosphere like pollen or dust mites and results in the production of an antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) and releases chemicals like histamine.
The chemical leads to a series of health issues like wheezing, trouble breathing, coughing, hives, stomach ache, diarrhea and a drop in blood pressure.
