Allergy Shots (SCIT – Subcutaneous Immunotherapy)
SCIT is used for the treatment of allergic conditions affecting the nose and eyes (allergic rhino-conjunctivitis), ears (allergic otitis media), lungs (bronchial asthma) as well as for severe insect sting allergy. They come in the form of shots and help patients have smaller (or nonexistent) allergic reactions to allergens like trees, grass, weeds, mold, house dust, animal dander, and insect stings.
The SCIT method systematically exposes your immune system to its triggers in small and individualized doses in order to habituate it to the allergens.
These injections contain small doses of the allergen extract, and these injections must be prepared and performed by trained professional pharmacists or medical doctors.
Most SCIT treatment protocols generally involve two phases: a “build-up” phase of weekly injections, then a “maintenance phase” that follows for a period of 3-5 years.
During the build-up phase, a patient will undergo multiple injections, each usually containing increasing amounts of the allergens once a week for about three to six months. Once the body has learned to tolerate an adequate amount of allergens, the next phase begins.
The maintenance phase is exactly what its name sounds. Contingent upon the patient’s allergen sensitivity and response to the build-up phase, the dosage of allergen that might initiate sooner or later. The time between treatments during this period is longer, ranging from two to four weeks between shots.
A patient may notice symptoms decreasing as early as 3 months from the start of the treatment. However, it’s also possible that noticeable improvement may take up to a year. Medical professionals generally recommend that patients continue the maintenance treatment for about three to five years because research has shown that the effect of the allergy shots are more likely to persist after treatments of that length, potentially preventing the patient from developing new allergies or asthma.
By desensitizing the immune system to the allergens, the body will learn that those substances are indeed harmless, which helps patients experience lasting relief of allergy symptoms even after treatment has concluded.