Re: : I'm so confused and a lil scared!!

[Guest guest]

Essentially allergy shots kind of operate on the same principle as a vaccination to some degree. A vaccine exposes your body to an illness and it learns to respond to that illness and fight it off. An allergy shot consists of a serum (liquid part) that contains a small dose of the allergen..or a mixture of allergens if a person has multiple allergies. Usually it is given in the upper arm and the patient will have to wait 15-20 minutes or so to be sure they arent going to react. Immunotherapy takes a few years to build, and usually the person starts with multiple weekly shots and builds gradually to one shot a month which lasts for a few years. The basic effect is to build up the body's immune system to achieve a more appropriate response to the allergen. When someone is allergic to something, their body basically goes haywire and over reacts to the problem..in your son's case, pollens.

Generally speaking for many people, a simple pill is enough to help control the body's response to allergens. Allergy shots are useful when medications arent working to relieve symptoms...they will usually be used in conjunction with an allergy medication. Asthma and allergies affect everyone differently...some folks get more allergic as they grow older, others outgrow the allergy & /or asthma and for some it never really changes. The best thing you can do is continue to watch your son for changes and if you think hes having more problems outside of spring, then have him evaluated by the doctor.

I hope that helps...

Ann

I'm so confused and a lil scared!!

My daughter got diagnosed with asthma in Oct 2008 at the age of 3 she'll be 5 in July..Her doctor put her on singulair and a nebulizer..Well that worked well for a few months but then she started having her bad coughing, congestion and weezing again..The nebulizer wasn't hardly helping her..Her doctor then gave her Proair to take when she had an attack.In 2009 Her asthma still wasn't controlLed so they put her on Qvar 40mg twice a day..That seemed to help alot..

Well intil this year we thought it was well controlled,she still had attacks but very few..She had already had around 8-10 this year alone =(

Normally her asthma was the worst in the winter months between Sep-Feb but now its May and she has already had 3 attacks this month alone. Her doctor was a lil worried so she set her up an app. with a allergy and asthma clinic.And also raised her Qvar to 80mg twice a week

We took her in yesterday and they did an allergy test.Well she tested positive to having an high allergys to dust mites,ladybugs, roaches,weed pollen,grass pollen and mold..She had mod reaction to cats and dogs,tree pollen and a few other things..They put her on a new med called Veramyot daily.(1 spray in each nostril)

They want us to start allergy shots asap. 1 shot in each arm three times a week for 6 months.Then after 6 months 1 shot in each arm once a week for 6 months..Then 1 shot a month for for 3-5 years..

Her doctor said it will help her asthma in the long run b/c they are building up her immune system to the things she is allergic to..

Has anyone else done allergy shots on their kids? Is it really worth it?? I'm kinda scared b/c he told us that 1 out of 1000 have a bad reaction to them.And if she has any signs of her asthma acting up she can't have it b/c it's like adding fule to the fire.I'd love any input on this..I just have A FEW WEEKS TO MAKE UP MY MIND =(