[Update on current care guidelines: Allergen specific immunotherapy].

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Immunological Therapies

Context:

• IgE-mediated allergic diseases represent a significant global health burden.
• Current treatments often manage symptoms rather than addressing underlying immune responses.

Purpose:

• To outline the scope and efficacy of various immunotherapy approaches for allergic diseases.
• To highlight the specific indications and administration routes for different immunotherapy types.

Summary:

• Immunotherapy is indicated for allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, insect sting allergies, and food allergies (e.g., milk, egg, wheat).
• Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) using allergens like pollens, danders, venoms, and mites is effective in adults and children.
• Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis is effective and safe.
• Specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI) is utilized for severe food allergies in children over five.

Impact:

• Immunotherapy provides disease-specific treatment options, potentially altering the natural course of allergic diseases.
• Effective immunotherapy can lead to long-term symptom relief and reduced medication reliance.
• The availability of multiple administration routes (SCIT, SLIT, SOTI) expands treatment accessibility and patient choice.