How common is anaphylaxis after allergy shots

There are many of us who suffer from allergies. These are food allergies, insect allergies, and allergies in the atmosphere that we may have a reaction to. For many of us who suffer from allergies, it can be bothersome, to say the least. However, there is relief from our everyday allergens. When we go to the doctor's office and take injections for our allergies, the doctor is helping us to build up an immunity to the allergies we suffer. Immunotherapy for our allergies is in the form of an injection. These injections will have what it is we are allergic to in the shot. The injections will help us build up an immunity to the allergy.

Why is it done?

We might be an excellent candidate for immunotherapy for our allergies if we are allergic to things in the air that our medications do not control. When we are taking medications on a daily basis and they do not help alleviate our allergic reactions, we might want to consider the immunotherapy for our allergies.

Also, there is a time when the medications we take for our allergies will interact with other medications we take. When this is the case, we might be a good candidate for a round of immunotherapy for our allergies. When we take shots for our allergies, we will not need to take the medications anymore. After we have completed our round of shots for our allergies, we will have built up the immunity to the allergens in the air, or the insect allergens that we might have to face.

What types of allergies can shots control?

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are those allergies like pollen and ragweed. We only have these symptoms at certain times of the year. That is why they are called seasonal allergies. When we want relief from them, we are in need of taking the shots to build up the immunity to these pesky allergens.

Indoor Allergens

Indoor allergens consist of dust mites, cockroaches, and pet dander. These allergens can be the worst. The medications we take for these allergies might not offer us too much relief. So, we will take the shots to build up immunity to the allergies.

Insect Allergies

Sometimes, we are allergic to the sting of an insect. These stings can be that of a hornet, wasp, or yellow-jacket. Immunotherapy might help us build up an immunity to these types of allergies.

What are the Risks of Immunotherapy for Allergies?

There are many people who do not experience any discomfort from their immunotherapy shots. However, there are some people who do. These can range from a variety of symptoms. The doctor will usually keep you for up to one hour after the injection. The doctor is observing you see if you have any adverse effects from the shot. Some of the adverse effects one can experience from the immunotherapy include local reactions and systemic reactions.

Local Reactions

Local reactions include various things like redness and discomfort at the injection site, swelling or irritation. These can all be signs of an adverse reaction to the shot. However, they usually go away on their own and they are not considered serious.

Systemic Reactions

It is not often that you will experience systemic reactions to immunology. If you do, they could be more serious than are local reactions to the shots. Some symptoms of systemic reactions include hives, sneezing, and congestion. The more serious systemic reactions include wheezing and throat swelling.

How common is Anaphylaxis after allergy shots?

The problem with anaphylaxis is that it is a serious and potentially life-threatening issue. Anaphylaxis can cause swelling of the throat and your blood pressure to decrease. These symptoms usually occur within thirty minutes of the injection. It is not common for anaphylaxis to occur when you are taking injections for allergies. However, you must remember the shots have a little bit of the allergen in them. This said it is possible for anaphylaxis to occur while taking injections for our allergies.

What Should I do to Prepare for my Appointment?

Before your appointment for immunology, your doctor will order a skin test. The skin test will give a more accurate reading of what you are allergic to. When the skin test is being performed, the doctor will put several mini-injectors that act as reactors on your back. The doctor will wait to see if you have a reaction from any one of these injections. The reaction the doctor is looking for is one that causes the skin beneath the subject to turn red and become itchy.

The doctor will then order injections for you to take. these injections are administered in the doctor's office. The person administering the shots will give you a little of the allergen in the shot at first. Then as you progress during your immunology, you will be given larger and larger amounts of the allergen. The reason you are given the allergen in the shot is that you should build up the immunity to the allergen at this point.

Remember, there is not presently any immunization against food allergies. The doctors are still researching the causes and counter-attacks for food allergies.

What can I Expect?

You can expect to build up the immunity to the allergies you have. the shots administered will help you to build up the immunity. There are two phases for the immunology for allergies. These two phases are the build-up phase and the maintenance phase. During the build-up phase, the shots are administered up to three times per week for up to one year. During the maintenance phase, the shots are not administered as often. They are administered for up to five years following the build-up phase.

There are several doctors who can order and administer allergy shots. One doctor is Daniel G. Becker. Before he orders and administers immunizations for allergies, he does the necessary tests for your allergies. If you are looking for an allergist in the Princeton area, call Dr. Becker today.