| Allergic Rhinitis | | | | U.S., delaying its acceptance here. Despite this slow |
| Allergic rhinitis affects 15-20% of adults. It affects | | | | acceptance here in America, SLIT has been reported |
| 40% of children. As many as 50 Million of us have | | | | to be safe for both adults and children in multiple |
| allergic rhinitis in the US. Allergic rhinitis accounts for 12 | | | | clinical trials. |
| Million doctor-visits per year. Allergic rhinitis causes 2 | | | | Does SLIT Work? |
| Million lost days of school per year. And allergic rhinitis | | | | To date (2010), 19 out of 22 clinical studies have |
| contributes to worse problems - 55% of those with | | | | found that SLIT was successful in reducing allergic |
| sinusitis have a history of allergic rhinitis (AR). | | | | rhinitis (common allergens: grass, dust mites, trees). |
| | | | Some studies also showed a significant positive |
| - Treatment of AR should focus mostly on avoidance | | | | effect on asthma. The estimated clinical improvement |
| of allergens - the triggers that we react to. When | | | | ranged from 20%-50%. For one clinical trial that |
| avoidance is not enough, the other 2 main | | | | included children with asthma treated for 2 years |
| treatments are: | | | | with SLIT against dust mite allergies, symptoms |
| - Antihistamines: Allergens cause a histamine release. | | | | decreased by 60% at the 2nd year of treatment. |
| Many of the symptoms of allergies are due to | | | | Like the Europeans a couple decades ahead of us, I |
| histamines. This is the reason so many of us, including | | | | conclude that SLIT can work to reduce allergic rhinitis |
| children, are taking antihistamines - to try to reduce | | | | and other allergic symptoms. |
| the allergic response.I am pretty strongly opposed to | | | | Side Effects of SLIT |
| use of antihistamines in children. Even newer | | | | As with SCIT, SLIT can result in severe, serious |
| antihistamines have numbing effects on their little | | | | reactions. There have been cases of anaphylaxis |
| brains, even if we don't notice. | | | | (life-threatening allergic reaction) linked to SLIT. To be |
| - Steroid Sprays: Topical steroid nasal sprays can help | | | | fair, there have also been cases (more, actually) of |
| reduce the inflammation of AR. All of them are | | | | anaphylaxis linked to SCIT, too. However, the |
| absorbed into the body to some extent. There have | | | | common reactions to SLIT include itching of the |
| been no well-executed medical studies on how | | | | mouth, throat irritation, nausea and other GI |
| effective these sprays are in children. Despite this, | | | | complaints. As with ANY immunotherapy, SLIT is not |
| we spend hundreds of millions on these sprays for | | | | without risks. As with ANY immunotherapy, SLIT |
| our children every year in this country. | | | | therapy should be used with caution and with close |
| Regardless of the medication, the effects of all | | | | medical attention. |
| allergy medications are temporary. | | | | SLIT in the United States |
| Immuno-therapy | | | | Most of the medical studies have been conducted |
| For a long-lasting reduction in allergy symptoms, we | | | | elsewhere in the world, not in the US. The US Food |
| need to change how our immune system reacts to | | | | and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved |
| allergens - immuno-modulation. The only treatment | | | | SLIT. Several clinical trials are ongoing at this time in |
| that has proven long-term immune modification is | | | | the US. If, as one would expect, the results here in |
| immunotherapy (IT). | | | | the US are similar to those obtained in studies done |
| The idea is to expose your immune system to very | | | | worldwide, the FDA will likely approve SLIT sometime |
| low amounts of your allergens over a long time, and | | | | in the future. |
| build tolerance to these antigens. | | | | Despite the lack of FDA approval, physicians are |
| Traditionally, subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) | | | | already providing SLIT therapy in the US, and some |
| involves frequent injections of allergens. Nobody likes | | | | have been offering this therapy for many years. For |
| needles. This makes SCIT unpopular: most children | | | | many patients, treatment without the approval of |
| stop going to their allergist for "allergy shots" before | | | | the FDA is not a concern. |
| they achieve the full benefits. | | | | To find a physician in your area who is skilled in SLIT |
| Sublingual Therapy - Drops Under the Tongue | | | | treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma, do an online |
| One alternative to SCIT has been sub-lingual (below | | | | search for sublingual immunotherapy. Also check out |
| the tongue) immunotherapy, or SLIT. SLIT has been | | | | the guidelines from the World Allergy Organization |
| used in Europe for over 20 years. It has been | | | | (WAO) on SLIT. For more details on controlling |
| successful in Europe. It has been popular in Europe. | | | | allergies, rhinitis, and sinusitis, please visit my blog. |
| Unfortunately, it has also been bad-mouthed in the | | | | |