Sublingual Immunotherapy Helpful in Mite-Sensitive Asthmatic Kids
Such a simple therapy with almost no side effects, and yet most allergists scoff at doctors using this therapy. This procedure using the concept of oral tolerance, where small dosages of an allergic substance are given, and this teaches the gut to calm down its reaction to the allergen.
Allergy 2000;55:842-849 Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) reduces asthma symptoms in children sensitive to house dust-mite allergen, Italian researchers report in the September issue of Allergy. However, the mechanism of the protective effect remains elusive. Dr. Giovanni B. Pajno, of the Universita di Messina, and colleagues conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of SLIT in 24 children ages 8 to 15 years. The children, all of whom had mild to moderate asthma and were sensitive to house dust mite, were randomized to 2 years of SLIT with standardized house dust mite extract or placebo. A total of 21 children completed the study, and those in the active treatment group showed a significant decrease in asthma symptoms and medication use. In addition, asthma scores improved in the treatment group, but not in the placebo group.