Immunotherapy: How It Works?

This article was published in Mind Your Body on 4th July 2007

Allergen-specific immunotherapy works by desensitising and decreasing the individual’s responses to his or her allergy.

Immunotherapy can be delivered via injection or by drops under the tongue. The latter technique is more convenient and can be administered in the comfort of the home.

The allergen drops are absorbed into the blood stream through the blood vessels under the tongue.

Once the allergen enters the blood stream, it is taken to lymph nodes in the surrounding area, where tolerance to the allergen is built up. Tolerance increases over time as more of the allergen is delivered at regular intervals in small but increasing amounts.

The individual will then mount a minimal response to further allergen exposure, hence achieving relief from the allergy symptoms.

Generally, this can be achieved in 12 to 18 months of treatment. The protection achieved by immunotherapy can last up to 10 years.

Immunotherapy is allergen specific meaning that immunotherapy against dust mites will only work for dust mites and not other allergies.

Multiple allergies can be treated at the same time.

Book an appointment with HealthSense Specialist Dr. YT Pang to look at your ENT problems and get cured.