April 18, 2002

Originally Published: 04012002.

Children who receive immunotherapy for seasonal allergies may have a lower risk of developing asthma, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Researchers randomly assigned 205 children with a history of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) into two groups: the immunotherapy group and the control group. All children were evaluated for asthma; 151 of them didn't have asthma at the start of the study.

Children in the immunotherapy group received weekly injections for their allergies initially, followed by maintenance doses every 6 weeks for 3 years. Children in the control group didn't receive any immunotherapy. All children took medication for allergy and asthma symptoms as needed.

Of the children who didn't have asthma at the start of the study, 44% of those in the control group developed asthma by the end of the study, compared with only 24% of those in the immunotherapy group. The researchers speculate that immunotherapy, which improves upper airway symptoms, may also provide immunologic protection in the lower airway. By preventing the immunologic response to allergens, immunotherapy may interrupt the natural progression of allergic disease, which may lead to asthma.

Source: "Pollen Immunotherapy Reduces the Development of Asthma in Children with Seasonal Rhinoconjunctivitis (the PAT-study), Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, C. Moller, et al., February 2002.

(C) 2002 Nursing. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved.