All about allergy

Author: Javed Sheikh, MD, Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Clinical Director, Division of Allergy and Inflammation, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Coauthor(s): Kathryn L Hale, MS, PA-C, Medical Writer, eMedicine.com, Inc.
Editors: Jeffrey Lee Kishiyama, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, Consulting Staff, Allergy and Asthma […]

Generally, allergy shots are safe, with minimal side effects. There are no long-term complications associated with this form of therapy, but there is a small risk of allergic reactions immediately following the injection. These allergic reactions can be severe (see below). Typically, allergy shots may cause slight swelling or redness at the injection site. These […]

Immunotherapy, if properly managed, can significantly reduce allergy symptoms. In some people, it greatly reduces the need for allergy medication.
These effects become noticeable 6-12 months after starting the therapy.
Most people notice continued gradual improvement over the next 2-4 years.
By years 3-5, most people are desensitized to their allergen or allergens. Many can stop immunotherapy at […]

Before starting immunotherapy, the allergist will take a complete medical history.
Be sure to tell him or her about every medication you take, prescription and nonprescription, even those you take only occasionally.
Report any vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal products, and other alternative therapies you take.
Also report every allergy you know of.
If you are a woman, it is […]

If you are interested in finding out whether allergy shots might work for you, talk to an allergist certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
Shots may be right for you if you have very severe symptoms that interfere with your normal activities even though you are taking appropriate medication. For more information on […]

Immunotherapy does not treat symptoms; it treats the immune system, the source of all allergic reactions. Although the exact details of how allergy shots work is unknown, we do know the general way they affect the immune system.
An allergic reaction occurs when the body is exposed to an external substance (the antigen) that the immune […]

Some allergens are simply impossible to avoid. You cannot live a normal life and completely avoid pollen, dust mites, mold spores, and certain other common triggers of allergic reactions. Many allergy sufferers use medications such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays to suppress their symptoms, and these medications are very effective in most. For people […]