Hay fever: New effective treatments for seasonal allergies
Glenis Skading still remembers one of her first patients undergoing sublingual immunotherapy forty years ago.
TL;DR
- Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, affects millions globally and can lead to other respiratory problems like asthma.
- Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a treatment that aims to desensitize the body to allergens, unlike medications that only manage symptoms.
- Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), administered under the tongue, is a safer alternative to traditional injection immunotherapy, with a significantly lower risk of severe allergic reactions.
- While effective, challenges with AIT include patient adherence to daily treatment regimens and the limited range of allergens currently approved for SLIT by regulatory bodies.
- Newer treatments, including biological drugs, are available for severe cases, but AIT offers the potential for long-term remission at a lower cost.