Allergen Immunotherapy, otherwise known as allergy shots, is a complex procedure during which a person’s immune system is re-educated to ignore allergens that are affecting that person.When given in appropriate amounts, allergen immunotherapy can provide long lasting effective relief of allergic rhinitis, allergen-induced asthma and stinging insect allergies.In many instances, giving immunotherapy to young children with year-round allergies may prevent the development of asthma and other allergies.Allergen immunotherapy is the most effective therapy for many allergic conditions and is the only therapy with the potential to make one less allergic.
Currently, only allergen extracts administered by injection have been approved by the FDA.In Europe, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is frequently used but the potencies of the extracts vary widely and for that reason, use of SLIT in the United States is considered experimental.It is for that reason that managed care organizations will not pay for SLIT.The few practitioners who provide SLIT are providing dosages that, when compared with carefully controlled European studies, would not be effective.However, most patients and parents of patients feel that they are effective due to the cost and the presumption they will improve (“the placebo effect”). Allergen immunotherapy should be prescribed by physicians specifically trained in diagnosing and treating allergies.Board certified (or eligible) allergists are physicians who have dedicated at least 2 years of their training to become specifically knowledgeable in the field of allergy and clinical immunology.Providers who send serum samples to remote laboratories who based solely on test results can define the allergens and prepare allergy extracts are banking on the lure of providing and charging for allergy shots.This “remote” practice of allergy is not recommended by current guidelines on allergen immunotherapy. Allergen immunotherapy should be administered in a dose that has been proven in carefully controlled studies to work to change the immune response.Such dosages are occasionally associated with serious side effects.Anaphylaxis is the most severe of allergic reactions and can be potentially life-threatening.It is for that reason that the current (2007) practice parameters on immunotherapy recommend that allergy shots be given only in a medical facility equipped to handle anaphylaxis. Considering the risk associated with allergy immunotherapy, and the training provided to board-certified allergists, for yourself or your child, why consider any specialist with less training?For a listing of allergists in Texas, look under the website for the Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society at www.taais.org.
The Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society (TAAIS) is a group of more than 220 board-certified Allergists/Immunologists in Texas. An Allergist/Immunologist is a physician, usually an Internist or Pediatrician, who has had special training and experience in the field of Allergy and Immunology and who is considered to be an expert in the diagnosis and management of immune system disorders such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (hayfever), eczema, urticaria (hives), drug reactions, food allergies, immune deficiencies, and all general aspects of anaphylaxis.
A Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist is a physician who has passed the certifying examination of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. A list of Board Certified Allergists can be found at http://www.taais.org/membershipdirectory.html.Those with “ABAI” under Board Certification are Board Certified Allergists/Immunologists.