More of 10 million people suffer from at least one allergy in our country, a figure that grows by 2% each year. A worrying fact that joins that of the WHO, which has predicted that allergies are growing at such a dizzying rate that they could affect more than half of the world’s population by 2050. Allergies are an exaggerated response by the immune system to substances that are not normally harmful, such as Poland, dust, food, chemicals and other allergens. Exposure to environmental pollutants, the change in eating patterns and the increase in urbanization and sedentary life are considered factors that can contribute to the increase in allergies. The treatments They are varied, depending on the case, although the most effective and that can eradicate them over time are vaccines. What are currently available? are they financed?
For cases of respiratory allergy (rhinitis and asthma), the allergist, in addition to a good treatment with drugs that relieve allergic inflammation, usually recommends the initiation of a specific allergenic vaccine. The best known are the sublingual Sublingual vaccines can be effective in treating a variety of allergies, including allergies to dust mites, pollen, mold, and certain foods. This therapy, which consists of the administration of sublingual drops to treat this condition, can be an alternative to subcutaneous injections of personalized immunotherapy. However, this type of treatment often requires multiple doses over several years to be effective, which can be expensive.
How much they cost?
Unfortunately, price is a significant barrier for many people who need treatment for their allergies. Often, insurers do not fully cover the cost of these vaccines, which means that patients have to pay a significant amount of money out of pocket. In our country, vaccines have a cost of approximately 500 euros, 200 financed by social security. The difference, 300 euros, is borne by the patient. That is, the families have to assume between 50% and 60% of its cost, something that is impossible for many of them, even more so if they have several members with allergies.
What if the treatment lasted for 3 years? The cost would be around 1000 euros. For families in which there are more than 2 members with some type of allergy, it would multiply or triple. Of course, not all people with allergies are candidates for this treatment. Normally, it is indicated when an allergic patient presents frequent nasal or bronchial symptoms, despite correct protective measures or the use of other alternative treatments over the years.
Allergy experts point out that, for years, some patients are not receiving the recommended vaccinations to treat their allergies. Of course, specialists also indicate that in the long term, vaccines are the only option that can modify the course of the disease and be profitable. In fact, the allergen immunotherapy or vaccine, is currently the only treatment that can achieve these results.
VACCINE TARGETS
Sublingual allergy shots are a type of treatment used to reduce symptoms from allergies. This treatment consists of the administration of small amounts of allergens through the mouth, under the tongue. Over time, the body is expected to develop a more effective immune response to these allergens, which should reduce allergy symptoms.
Los symptoms Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe and include sneezing, runny nose, coughing, itching, redness and swelling of the skin, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Therefore, the first objective of vaccines, and the most notable, is the symptom relief. At first, they do not work immediately, so they will have to be combined with other alternatives for this purpose, such as antihistamines
The second objective is that the positive effect is maintained at the end of vaccination, for which a minimum treatment time of between 3-5 years is needed. Thus, according to the professionals, it is the only treatment that can achieve a persistent improvement.
After a time of administration, the organism begins to develop tolerance to the allergen, so symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes or congestion are significantly reduced and may even disappear completely. After the first dose is administered, it may not be necessary to visit the healthcare provider for subsequent doses and can be done at home.
SIDE EFFECTS
The dosage is applied daily and is generally relatively safe. Despite this, they may mild side effects They are usually easily resolved. Some of the more common side effects include headache, sore throat, itchy mouth and throat, and redness or swelling at the application site.
In rare cases, sublingual vaccines can cause severe allergic reactions, such as trouble breathing, chest tightness, swelling in the face or throat, and dizziness or fainting. For this reason, it is recommended that the first dose be administered in a physician’s office and that the patient be observed for a period of time after application.
