[Specific immunotherapy in hay fever: a practical overview]

Pollinosis affects up to 20% of the Swiss population and increased substantially during the last century. Diagnosis of pollinosis is based on anamnesis, skin tests and determination of specific IgE in the serum. Treatment includes allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy and allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). A proper patient and allergen extract selection, an ideally adapted application regimen and good patient-guidance are decisive for the success of the SIT. Under such conditions immunotherapy leads to a benefit in more than 80% of pollinosis-patients. Component-resolved diagnosis is an important step in more specific diagnosis. Several approaches studying changed application regimens and using molecular technologies to improve the efficacy of SIT are undergoing and will possibly substantially improve the efficacy, safety and acceptance of SIT.