Allergy shots

[Mariamkamran]

My son doctor is advising us to think about giving him allergy shots for dust mites and cockroaches and we are still confuse. Can anybody share with us about his or her allergy shots experience?

[elanaoali]

Would be interested on the outcome of your son's shots. Very allergic to house dust mites myself. I am presuming you are in America as we would call them injections.

[Shellc]

I used to go to a private clinic in Banstead for my allergies , u get tested fir your specific allergy then u give yourself a very small injection everyday with that allergen , worked great fir me , at the time nhs paid fir it but decided to pull the plug in it 3 years ago and I couldn’t afford to keep paying for it , since been put on xolair and mepolizamab but didn’t work fir the food side of things but had tremendous side affects on them

[Mariamkamran]

No i am residing in UAE. Here doctor suggest us for the allergy shots. Skin test has already been done. But we are still not ready for allergy shots. Whether that will work or not. I am not sure about the allergy shots insurance conerage. Althougj our allergy test was covered by the insurance company.

[Tree20862 in reply to Mariamkamran]

I had allergy shots in high school but it didn't help. My current allergist has brought it up again... The down side is it can take up to 2 years to get results. I have known other people who have been successful.

[strongmouse]

You are wise to research information. There is no world wide consensus on immunotherapy and the shots you get can vary. It can make a difference to the severity of allergy reaction and should be given by a qualified doctor. In the UK it tends to be used only for certain allergens and in severe cases.

I had a modified treatment of several injections (done privately covering a range of allergies - EPD, enyme potentiated desensitaisation) and they did help for a while in reducing my symptoms. They were considered to be better for people with many allergies, but the effects have lessened. However younger children's immune systems are different. Some children seem to grow out of certain allergies, but in the UK they do offer immunotherapy at some hospitals for children with severe reactions.

I'd suggest trying to minimise your son's exposure to known allergens. There is plenty of information about products helping with dust mite allergies such as bedding, mattress covers and removing carpets. Air filters are quite useful too especially in the bedroom at night. Healthy House have good information - healthy-house.co.uk/allergy...

[hobby12]

I have taken this about 30 years ago when I was about 14 years old for dust mites and crckroches. My Asthma became less frequent as I grew older. Not sure it because of allergies shots or I was grown out of it. I am still Asthmatic but no way near as severe as during my childhood days

[Saassii]

I would never do it! There is no research on it currently, no studies, humans are being experimented on now. I wouldn't let me son be a guinea pig unless it were the difference between life and death. Children very often grow out of their allergies. I'd give his brilliant immune system a chance to fight and learn without the experimental intervention that also carries huge and not well understood outcomes. I'd hold of with any vaccinations that aren't absolutely necessary either.