ALLERGY MEDICAL HELP: DESENSITISATION
Treatment of allergies and sensitivity by immunotherapy - stimulating the immune system in some way to stop the allergic reaction - is practised in three main forms - desensitisation, neutralisation, and enzyme-potentiated desensitisation. These are controversial - partly because the mechanisms are not entirely understood, and partly because they do not work equally well on everybody. They are not alternative or complementary medicine techniques. When properly applied, the techniques can be very effective and they offer a drug-free and relatively simple solution. They all work best when combined with avoidance measures.
Desensitisation
Desensitisation (also called immunotherapy or hyposensitisation) is carried out by giving a series of injections, into tissue beneath the skin, of the substance to which the person is allergic, over a period of months or years. The first injection is dilute, but may still cause a local reaction or a mild general reaction. Provided the reaction is mild, the next injection is stronger, and the injections continue to increase, week by week. On each occasion the individual must be watched for two hours, because very rarely the injections can cause a more severe reaction. This method is now only used in hospitals, and is mainly used to protect people who get serious reactions to bee and wasp stings, for which it is the only effective protection and can be life-saving.
Courses of injections are usually given in the three to six months before the start of seasonal exposure: in some people, two or three courses may result in marked improvement in symptoms lasting for many years. Not everybody manages to tolerate the treatment.
If desensitisation works for you and you stay the course, it can be a very convenient and straightforward therapy. Desensitisation is known to be most effective against bee and wasp stings, and inhalant allergens such as grass pollens and house dust mites; and for symptoms such as hay fever and asthma. It is not usually very effective against food allergy. For seasonal allergens, such as moulds or pollens, it is best carried out before the season starts. *418\117\8*
