Seasonal allergies aren’t confined to only the spring and fall months. For people who suffer from summer allergies, spending time outdoors isn’t fun in the Sun. The most common culprits of summer allergies are pollen from weeds and grasses, airborne mold spores, and insect stings. Summer allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe, and for those with allergies to stinging insects, symptoms can be life-threatening. Fortunately, there are many safe and effective long-term treatments available.
Injection Immunotherapy
One treatment option is injection immunotherapy. More commonly known as allergy shots, injection immunotherapy is a treatment where the patient is injected with a small dose of allergens. Each injection contains just enough allergens to stimulate the immune system without triggering an allergic reaction.
Over time, the injections cause the individual’s immune system to build up a tolerance to the allergens and decrease allergy symptoms. The injections are administered once or twice each week, usually for three to six months. This is known as the build-up phase. The strength of the injection increases until an effective dose is reached. After that, the time between injections is two to four weeks. This is called the maintenance phase, which will last for several months. Afterward, patient’s will need to receive an injection once a month over the course of the next three to five years.
Sublingual Immunotherapy
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an effective alternative treatment to allergy shots. The treatment is similar to injection immunotherapy; small doses of allergens are delivered to increase the body’s immunity while decreasing allergic symptoms. The treatment is administered as drops under the tongue or in a tablet. During the escalation phase, the patient uses the drops or tablet daily as the dosage is increased. During the maintenance phase, the patient takes the same dose daily for three to five years to establish lasting immunity. The advantage of this treatment is that it can be provided at the patient’s home rather than visiting the doctor each week for shots.
An allergist must first confirm the patient’s allergies through allergy testing before treatment can be provided.