Immunotherapy works by suppressing your body’s reaction to allergies. Allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to non-harmful substances (pollens, house dust mites, animal dander etc) or venom allergen from insect stings (bees, wasps etc).

The treatments we offer are:

• Allergen immunotherapy – given by injections under the skin (also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy) every week for two to three months, followed by every four to six weeks for three years
• Sublingual immunotherapy – digesting dissolvable tablets, which will need to be taken under observations in our hospital followed by daily treatment at home.

Effectiveness

Most people respond very well to treatment, with a reduction of symptoms and medication use.

Treatment is mainly given for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (including severe hay fever) and for life-threatening reactions to insect stings. Symptomatic treatment may still be required.

Find out more about our asthma and allergy services.

Further information

• Not every allergic patient may be suitable for allergen immunotherapy, which means having an individual assessment is crucial.
• Patients with insect allergies should continue carrying an adrenaline injector device.
• Both treatments may cause some side effects, such as itchiness and swelling.

• Some serious reactions, such as difficulty in breathing, faintness or sickness (anaphylaxis), are rare, and mostly occur within 30 minutes of the dose. We will have a 60-minute observation period after each injection.