Desensitisation Treatment

An allergy develops when your immune system overreacts to a substance that normally does not cause any problems, such as grass pollen or house dust mites. During immunotherapy, you’ll receive a controlled dose of the substance you’re allergic to at regular intervals to teach your immune system to tolerate it and reduce your allergy symptoms.

There are 2 main types of  immunotherapy:

• sublingual immunotherapy (used to treat grass pollen, tree pollen, house dust mite, and pet allergies) – you’ll be given an allergen extract under your tongue in the form of tablets or drops. The first dose of treatment is given under the supervision of an allergist, but you’ll take the following doses at home. You’ll usually take your sublingual immunotherapy treatment every day for 3 years

• subcutaneous immunotherapy (aeroallergens, but mainly insect venom) – you’ll have a series of injections in your upper arm over 3 years. For safety reasons, every dose is administered by a consultant allergist, and you’ll need to stay in our Allergy centre for a short time after treatment to be monitored for signs of an allergic reaction and ensure you are safe to go home

Desensitisation is a generally safe procedure, but as with any medical procedure, there’s a small risk that complications or side effects can occur. Your consultant will explain all the possible risks and complications before your treatment and answer any questions you may have. 

Potential side effects of desensitisation therapy include: 

• a mild rash at the injection site (with subcutaneous immunotherapy)

• itching and swelling in your mouth (with sublingual immunotherapy)

• sneezing, watery eyes or mild asthma symptoms

• tiredness 

• headaches

• anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) –  this is an extremely rare, but serious complication. Symptoms include swelling of your face, tongue and throat, difficulty breathing, hives and collapse. The risk is higher (but still very low) with subcutaneous immunotherapy. If you experience anaphylaxis, our healthcare professionals at Welbeck Skin Health & Allergy are fully trained and equipped to treat it

Before you start desensitisation therapy, your consultant allergist will assess your symptoms during a consultation and perform allergy tests such as a skin prick test and/or a blood test to identify the exact allergen(s) that cause your symptoms. 

Based on the results of these tests, your allergist will decide on the best treatment plan to suit your needs. Tell your consultant about any medications you take regularly and any medical conditions you have. 

Before your desensitisation therapy: 

• you might need to stop certain drugs for 24 hours 

• you can eat or drink as normal before your appointment

• tell your allergist if you feel unwell on the day of your appointment. They may decide to reschedule your treatment 

• avoid any activity that increases your heart rate, such as exercise or exposure to heat. This can increase the risk of having an allergic reaction 

• don’t brush your teeth immediately before taking tablets or drops

If you’re having injections (subcutaneous immunotherapy), you’ll need to stay in the department for around 30 minutes after your treatment to make sure you don’t have a severe allergic reaction. You can then go home. There’s no recovery time after desensitisation therapy, and you can resume your normal activities, including driving and returning to work or school, straight away. 

Allergy symptoms won’t disappear overnight with either type of immunotherapy. However, the effect of both forms of immunotherapy can last for years after the treatment has finished, with many patients reporting less need for anti-allergy medication and an improved quality of life. How effective desensitisation therapy is varies from person to person.  Some people see significant results in the early stages of treatment, while for others it can take several months or years to see an improvement.

Please contact our Allergy centre for pricing.

At Welbeck, our allergists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

We accept both self-referrals and referrals from healthcare professionals for this treatment.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with an allergist, please get in touch to make an appointment. Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.