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Clinical practice

Allergen-specific immunotherapy in children: facts and FAQs

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Abstract

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) in its various application forms represents the main treatment approach of IgE-mediated allergic diseases in adults and children. Despite this clear recommendation, many particularities of products, patient characteristics, and product availability in different countries hamper the use of allergen-specific immunotherapy in particular in children. The frequently asked questions by parents, patients, and physicians are the backbone of this review. Thus, the potentials and limitations of allergen-specific immunotherapy in children and adolescents will be highlighted. IgE-mediated allergic diseases are affecting about 20% of the population. They manifest commonly early in life, and hence, the use of SIT should be considered also early in the course of the disease.

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Abbreviations

SIT:

Allergen-specific immunotherapy

SLIT:

Sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy

SCIT:

Subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy

Allergoids:

Chemically modified allergen extracts

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  1. Division of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Zsolt Szépfalusi, Saskia Gruber, Thomas Eiwegger & Eleonora Dehlink

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  1. Zsolt Szépfalusi
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Correspondence to Zsolt Szépfalusi.

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Szépfalusi, Z., Gruber, S., Eiwegger, T. et al. Clinical practice. Eur J Pediatr 170, 137–148 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1348-7

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