Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)

When it is not possible to avoid your allergens and treatment with medications alone does not solve the problem, or if you're affected by seasonal allergies for more than three months of the year, allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, may be in order. This involves giving a person increasingly higher doses of their allergen over time. For reasons that we do not completely understand, the person gradually becomes less sensitive to that allergen. Shots can be effective for some people with hay fever, certain animal allergies, and insect stings. ) By changing the immune pathways, immunotherapy may even help prevent the development of other allergies as well as asthma. It is usually not effective for allergies to food, drugs, or feathers, nor is it effective for hives or eczema.

Prevention

There are some simple strategies you can use to prevent allergies at home, work school, outside and when you travel.

1. Dust to control mites. Dust mites are one of the most common allergens found in homes, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. These microscopic creatures live in beds, carpets, pillows, and upholstered furniture, feeding on our dead skin cells. But it's their droppings that some people are allergic to. By dusting surfaces and washing bedding often, you can control the amount of dust mites in your home. Since getting rid of dust mites completely is difficult, it's best to put a barrier between you and them. Cover your mattress, box spring, comforter, and pillows with special allergy cases, which are woven in such a way that the dust-mite droppings can't get through. (Look for AllerCare products, $10 to $100; bedbathandbeyond.com.)
   
   
2. Vacuum often. Although cleaning can sometimes trigger allergic reactions, with dust in the air, vacuuming all floors, especially carpets, once or twice a week will reduce surface dust mites. Wear a mask when doing housework and consider leaving for a few hours after you clean to avoid allergens in the air. You can also opt for a vacuum that has an air filter to capture dust. HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air filter) vacuums trap particles and don't spew them back into the air. Also make sure your carpet cleaner contains tannic acid, a chemical that helps destroy dust mites.