Should I consider hay fever vaccinations? (2023)

If you have severe nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, and an itchy throat right after warmer weather, and medications and nasal sprays don't relieve your discomfort,hay feverInjections may be the solution you are looking for.

As anyone with acute hay fever will tell you, this nasty hay fever allergy is all-consuming and makes life extremely difficult. This condition, also known as allergic rhinitis, has no cure, so treatment is the only way to control symptoms.

To help you breathe easier this year, we interviewedDr. Seth Rankin, FounderLondon medical clinic, yAnshu Koala Pharmacistoflloyd's pharmacy, explains how hay fever injections work, reveals the risks associated with them, and shares recommendations for alternative treatments:

What is hay fever?

hay feverIt is an allergic reaction to pollen. Around 10% to 15% of the British population is affected at various times of the year, depending on the type of pollen allergy they have. Tree pollen allergies occur between March and May, grass pollen allergies occur between May and July, and weed pollen allergies occur between June and September.

Hay fever is the same as any other allergic reaction: Your immune system recognizes a foreign substance that has entered your body and tries to get rid of it, triggering an inflammatory response. In the case of hay fever, the foreign body is pollen and it is harmless.

While "protecting" your body from pollen, your immune system triggers a variety of cold-like symptoms, from frequent sneezing and coughing to severe exhaustion and illness. Other common symptoms of hay fever include:

• runny or congested nose
• red watery eyes
• Itchy throat, mouth, nose, eyes, or ears
• Headache
• breath
• firm chest
• loss of smell

Antihistamine tablets, nasal spray, and eye drops are available by prescription and over-the-counter to treat hay fever symptoms. However, around two-thirds of patients find that their symptoms do not respond to these treatments, which is where hay fever injections come into play.

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Can I get vaccinated against hay fever?

A hay fever injection called Kenalog is still officially licensed in the UK to treat severe hay fever, but only in private clinics. It contains triamcinolone acetonide, which belongs to a group of medicines called corticosteroids (steroids). "Steroids are some of the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs," said Dr. Rankin. "They are used to treat a variety of conditions in which the body's immune system goes haywire, includingasmayRheumatoid arthritis.'

The NHS has determined that the potential benefits associated with injectable steroids for hay fever do not outweigh the risks. Steroid pills (such asprednisolone) is occasionally prescribed for hay fever, but not for more than 10 days. The longer you take it, the more likely you are to experience side effects like weight gain, trouble sleeping, and mood changes like anxiety and depression. Steroid nasal spray or drops (containsBetamethasoneand fluticasone) are also available by prescription, but should not be used for more than 4 weeks.

Do hay fever injections work?

There is scientific evidence that hay fever vaccines are effective. In a 1972 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 97 people with severe symptoms of hay fever received hay fever injections. After 10 days, symptoms improved or disappeared in 94% of patients.

'A single dose can provide reliefhay feverA 1999 Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) concluded, "but it is unclear how long any benefit might last, what adverse effects might occur, and how they would compare to standard therapy." The bulletin advises against injections for hay fever "until there is clear evidence that they are superior to other hay fever treatments."

In 2019, the UK Department for Medicines Information released a new review of injectables for hay fever. While a single injection of Kenalog can relieve hay fever symptoms, uncertainty remains about the efficacy and safety of repeated doses, the authors wrote. "There is a lack of comparative studies and no new published data on Kenalog to change the conclusion of the 1999 DTB review that this product should not be used."

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How do injections for hay fever work?

Hay fever injections work by temporarily suppressing the body's immune response long enough to relieve symptoms. Steroid injections into the buttock, called intramuscular (IM) injections, inject low doses directly into the muscle. They slowly seep into the bloodstream over three weeks.

How long do hay fever vaccines take to work?

After the injection, the effects last for at least three weeks, and many people experience relief throughout the season. usually one dosehay fever\ Injection, equivalent to 40 mg of triamcinolone acetonide, is sufficient. It is not recommended that anyone receive more than two injections per hay fever season.

How much do injections for hay fever cost?

Hay fever vaccines are not available on the NHS and they certainly aren't cheap. Generally, a 40mg dose will set you back in excess of £75, although it varies from clinic to clinic. A consultation fee is usually included in the price as well, but it's worth checking before you book.

Hay Fever Injection Risks

Before considering hay fever injections as a remedy for severe hay fever symptoms, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the risks and possible side effects:

• Side Effects of the Hay Fever Injection

Taking steroid medications is not without risk. You may experience short-term and long-term side effectshay feverInjections such as swelling, shortness of breath, itchy skin, abdominal pain, increased blood pressure, and increased blood sugar. "Before anyone agrees to undergo steroid treatment, they should be made aware of the possible side effects, but it's best to remember that they are relatively rare," Dr. Rankin said.

• Ongoing side effects from hay fever vaccines

While hay fever shots are more convenient than taking pills, if you're unfortunate enough to get side effects, you'll keep using them longer, says Dr. Rankin. "Once you've had an injection, there's nothing anyone can do to stop the steroid from leaking into your bloodstream," he said. “If you have any side effects, it can last up to three weeks.” During this time, your immune system is also suppressed, making you more susceptible to infection.

• Vaccinations against hay fever and underlying conditions

Steroids, such as hay fever injections, can exacerbate existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, stomach ulcers, and infections, and interact with certain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. It can also interfere with certain laboratory tests to cause false results. If you are considering gettinghay feverInjections, consult your GP or a qualified medical professional first; they will help you make an informed decision.

Benefits of hay fever vaccines

Not everything is pessimism. Hay fever vaccines have some potential benefits:

✔️Convenient injection for hay fever

No one can deny the charm of stopping the symptoms of hay fever with a single injection. "People with hay fever usually only need one injection to reduce symptoms for the entire season," says Dr. Rankin. "It's very convenient compared to taking a pill every day."

✔️ Hay fever injections are not as effective as steroid pills

In theory, lower doses mean potential side effects are less severe. "Each injection roughly corresponds to the steroid dose of one 5mg prednisolone tablet per day for about three weeks. It doesn't have to go through the liver or digestive system, so you can use slightly lower doses," said Dr. Dr Rankin. than in tablet form.

✔️ Hay fever injections can be effective

Some people report that their symptoms improve significantly after receiving treatment.hay feverinjection. "For seriously ill patients, hay fever can wreak havoc on their lives," said Dr. Rankin. "Untreated hay fever has been shown to lower student test scores by 5 to 10 percent. Patients report feeling ill or exhausted for months.

Can you get rid of hay fever permanently?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for hay fever. The only way to manage the condition is to limit your exposure to pollen and treat symptoms with topical and oral antihistamines, nasal steroids, and eye drops. Those who experience severe hay fever each year may beimmunotherapy, which involves exposure to small amounts of pollen to help boost immunity.

"This therapy is a long-term treatment option that helps prevent allergy symptoms from developing in the first place, or at least lessen their severity," Koala said. "The best time to start hay fever immunotherapy is before the peak hay fever season, usually March through July. Patients receive small doses of treatment over the course of three to four months to help develop the hay fever. immunity over the course of three to four months.

Immunotherapy can be given as an injection, called systemic injection immunotherapy (SIT), or as a tablet that dissolves under the tongue, called sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Over time, it reduces the severity of the immune system response, which reduces symptoms. Immunotherapy is a slow process; generally, three years of treatment are needed to achieve long-term desensitization to pollen.

'immunotherapyIt's not always safe for everyone, so it's important to seek the advice of your GP first, and if you decide to continue, seek treatment in a safe and trusted place," said Kaura. People whose symptoms do not seem to go away with changes in lifestyle and over-the-counter medications – your GP can refer you for immunotherapy, if appropriate."

Does hay fever get better with age?

Just as allergies like hay fever develop in adulthood, they also decline with age. Many people find that their hay fever symptoms become less severe as they age: about half report an improvement in symptoms, and a lucky 10-20% find that their symptoms disappear completely. TOstudyThe Swedish University Hospital concluded that hay fever is most likely to disappear when people reach their fifties.

last update: 21-04-2021