Hay fever immunotherapy in Newcastle upon Tyne

Immunotherapy for hay fever that comes back every year

For most people, treating hay fever means getting through each summer with tablets, sprays and eye drops. That is enough for many, but if your symptoms are severe and return every year whatever you take, immunotherapy may be worth considering. It is the only hay fever treatment that works on the allergy itself rather than on the symptoms it causes.

Hay Fever Treatment provides an immunotherapy assessment service from Newcastle upon Tyne. We look at your history, confirm your triggers and give you a straight answer on whether desensitisation is likely to suit you. If it does, we'll explain how treatment can be arranged for you and what the commitment involves before you decide anything.

How does desensitisation for hay fever work?

Immunotherapy gives your immune system regular, controlled doses of the pollen you are allergic to. The dose is built up gradually and then continued over a long period. Over time, this can make your body less reactive to that pollen, which means fewer symptoms during the season and, for many people, less need for other medicines.

Because it changes the way the immune system responds, the benefit can last beyond the end of a full course. That sets it apart from every other hay fever treatment, including the steroid-based hay fever injection, which only dampens inflammation for part of a single season.

Sublingual immunotherapy (tablets or drops)

This is taken daily under the tongue. The first dose is normally given under medical supervision so that any reaction can be managed, and later doses are usually taken at home.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (injections)

This involves a series of injections given in a specialist setting, with a period of observation after each one. Courses are often scheduled in the months leading up to the pollen season.

Your assessment will cover which route is more practical for you and how it would fit around work, study and family life.

Who is grass and tree pollen immunotherapy suitable for?

Immunotherapy is intended for adults whose hay fever is severe and clearly linked to a specific pollen. You are more likely to be a good candidate if:

• your symptoms are mainly caused by grass pollen or by tree pollen such as birch
• the allergy has been confirmed by testing and matches when your symptoms occur
• symptoms stay troublesome even when standard treatments are used correctly
• you can commit to treatment for around three years

It is not right for everyone. It may be unsuitable if you have severe or poorly controlled asthma, certain autoimmune conditions or take medicines such as beta-blockers, and pregnancy affects when treatment can begin. All of this is covered at your assessment. If immunotherapy isn't appropriate, we'll recommend a better option, such as a prescription treatment review.

Is immunotherapy worth it?

For the right person, it can be. The main advantage is the chance of longer-lasting relief and less reliance on daily medicine, instead of starting again every spring. The drawbacks are the length of the course, the need for supervised doses at certain stages and the overall cost across several years. Some people also have mild side effects, such as an itchy mouth when starting sublingual treatment.

The assessment is there to help you weigh this up with proper information. We would rather tell you plainly that immunotherapy is unlikely to be worthwhile than recommend a three-year commitment that doesn't suit you.

When should immunotherapy start?

Timing matters. Most courses need to begin several months before your pollen season, so autumn and winter are the best times to get in touch. Starting during the season is not usually recommended. Our UK pollen calendar shows when tree and grass pollen typically peak, which helps us plan backwards from your worst weeks.

If you are reading this mid-season, it is still worth making an enquiry. We can help you manage this year's symptoms now and put the groundwork in place for next year.