Can specific immunotherapy injections reduce hay fever and other forms of allergic rhinitis?
Repeated injections of tiny amounts of the specific substance that cause a person’s allergic reactions can reduce hay fever symptoms. This specific immunotherapy or “desensitisation” needs to be continued for several years. There is a small chance of a dangerous reaction to the injection that would need immediate medical treatment. The medical term for hay fever is “seasonal allergic rhinitis”. This common allergy is usually triggered by certain kinds of pollen or mould in the air that are found in greater amounts in the springtime and summer. Some people have allergic rhinitis symptoms all year round (“perennial allergic rhinitis”). They are often allergic to house dust mites, pet dander or some other airborne allergy triggers (allergens). These conditions are also sometimes called allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Rhinitis means inflammation of the membranes in the nose, and conjunctivitis is a certain kind of eye inflammation. The body over-reacts to one or more specific allergens such
