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What Parents Should Know About Child Allergy Shots

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Child allergy shots are a well-proven, medically accepted therapy for the treatment and prevention of allergy reactions in kids. Child allergy shots have produced great results in preventing future reactions of targeted allergies. Child allergy shots are not indicated for many child allergy sufferers, though, and so before a parent pursues the possibility of child allergy shots for their allergic child, they should take some time to learn about what child allergy shots are, and who should consider getting them.

What Are Child Allergy Shots?

In essence, child allergy shots are immunizations, or vaccines, against specific allergies. After testing to determine what specific allergens are causing allergic reactions in children, purified extracts of allergen are prepared and given to the child in a series of shots. One shot will be given for each specific allergen the child is being treated for. The small doses of allergens give the child's body the opportunity to acclimate to the allergen and recognize it as harmless (as it should be). Over time, the body will stop producing immune antibodies to the allergen(s) so the child will no longer experience an allergic reaction when the allergen is encountered. Child allergy shots are also called immunotherapy or desensitization.

How Do Child Allergy Shots Help Kids With Allergies?

As mentioned above, child allergy shots re-train the body to recognize allergens the way it should—as harmless substances rather than dangerous invaders. The body learns to ignore the allergen and not build up reaction-causing antibodies against it. Essentially, it restores the body back to 'normal' for each type of allergy shot given; the result is a lasting immunity against the targeted allergen or allergens. The immunity should last the child for five to ten years following course completion if the course is given according to schedule; if the course is stopped or interrupted prematurely, the immunity will not last as long.

This is not to say that a child will never again experience an allergic reaction if other allergies are present. Each child allergy shot treats one kind of allergy; allergies that are not immunized for (because they are unknown or contra-indicated for desensitization) will still be present and will still create a reaction.

How Are Child Allergy Shots Given?

Child allergy shots are given in small doses over a long period of time for each allergen (but more than one type of shot may be given in each setting).

Child allergy shots start off in small doses; these small doses should not cause an allergic reaction in the child. At first, child allergy shots will be given on a weekly basis in most cases. This proceeds for between three and six months until the child is able to tolerate higher levels of allergen; this is considered a build-up period and when it is complete allergy symptoms normally subside. Following the build-up period, there is a three to five year maintenance period.

As the therapy progresses, the dosage of allergen is increased; larger doses still should not produce a reaction. The larger dosages make it possible to reduce the frequency of child allergy shots to once monthly throughout the maintenance period. At the end of the five-year total, lasting immunity has been achieved.

Are There Risks To Giving Child Allergy Shots?

Allergy shots do present a risk of reaction and side-effects. These do not occur in all children receiving child allergy shots and of those who do most reactions are limited to localized swelling and itching at the injection site which can be treated with antihistamines. When swelling and itching is significant the dosage of allergen and/or schedule may be adjusted.

There is also the possibility that a child will experience a systemic reaction that affects various parts of the body with mild to severe whole-body allergy symptoms. These reactions are rarely life-threatening, but the potential for anaphylaxis is there. For this reason, it is imperative that only a qualified immunologist/allergist administer child allergy shots and that the child be watched in the doctor's office for approximately a half an hour following treatment.

Who Should Get Child Allergy Shots?

Child allergy shots are not recommended for all children with child allergies; in fact, child allergy shots are not recommended in the majority of cases. Both parent and child must commit to the long course of treatment and must understand the risks to the child's health.

When child allergies can be reasonably controlled with allergy medicines, relief medications, and environmental measures, child allergy shots are not usually recommended. Child allergy shots are normally only given to children with uncontrollable allergies or children who adversely react to available allergy medications.

Child allergy shots can give relief to a child that will last for years to come; such a great promise is hard to ignore, but the decision to have a child undergo years of immunotherapy is one that can only be reached cooperatively between parent, child, and allergist. Like all medical decisions, choosing child allergy shots is a serious decision that warrants careful research and consideration.

 

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