Allergy Diagnostics and Treatment

Injection Immunotherapy (SCIT)

Traditionally, allergy vaccination has been achieved through the use of a program of Injections administered according to a standard Protocol (or Regime or Scheme). This is known as Sub-Cutaneous Immunotherapy; SCIT. The usual standard SCIT Protocol utilises a series of approximately 15 weekly doses of increasing strength and/or volume of the allergen solution; called the Initial Phase. Once the highest tolerated strength/potency has been achieved then this becomes the Maintenance Dose and is repeated every 4 to 6 weeks for approx. 3 years. After this three year course of therapy, the course is then either stopped or tailed off, or may be continued for certain highly-sensitised patients.

Other protocols exist for different products and clinical cases, such as "Rush" or "Ultra Rush" or "Cluster", but these are most usually reserved for Allergy Specialist use in the hospital setting.

Similarly, experimental vaccines to treat for example peanut allergy do exist but they are for Allergy Specialist use on special clinical cases, and done in the hospital setting.

Whilst each patient's response to allergy immunotherapy is highly individual, in general most patients will start to experience improvements in symptoms and other medication usage after a few months. After the full 3-year course, remission of symptoms is most usually then complete or at least substantial, and for several years duration or for the lifetime

It is important to note that vaccination against one particular problem allergen will generally also ameliorate any symptoms from other allergens, and prevent the patient from developing asthma, and will prevent the development of sensitivity against more allergens in the future. This is why there is an increasing trend to identify problem allergens early in the "Allergic March" amongst children, and institute Immunotherapy in order to halt "The Allergic March" towards more severe symptoms, and a greater range of symptoms, and more allergens.