What is Cluster Immunotherapy?

Across the world people suffer from allergic reactions on a regular basis. Allergies are debilitating, annoying-and in some cases-fatal. For some, a simple medication can alleviate allergy symptoms, but for others, frequent allergy shots are the only way to go. If you are suffering from severe allergy problems, cluster immunotherapy may be the right solution for you. But first of all, what is cluster immunotherapy?

Cluster immunotherapy is simply getting two or three allergy shots at once, several times a week. What this does is help the patient's body build up it's defenses against seasonal allergens and generally help the patient get better sooner. Instead of getting an allergy shot again and again over a set period of time, cluster immunotherapy clumps allergy shots closer together in an attempt to vamp up the body's protective abilities faster than usual. Allergy shots also tend to take several weeks to a month to start working right. For busy people who need to get better quick, regular allergy shot schedules can often be time consuming and aggravating. Cluster immunotherapy crunches the number of visits and visitation time down to a minimum.

Although cluster immunotherapy does help millions of people, it can cause severe allergic reactions to some sensitive people. In this way cluster immunotherapy may not be a treatment option for everyone. The shots typically contain varying levels of grass that cause allergic problems. Trisetum paniceum and Dactylis glomerata are two common wild grasses used in cluster immunotherapy. There are, however, several new options with premedication and vaccine that allow the allergy shots to work at optimum efficiency while minimizing allergic reactions. Also, some doctors may recommend a "aluminium hydroxide-adsorbed honey bee venom extract" which has been proven to be safer in cluster immunotherapy than other options.

Cluster immunotherapy is especially effective against venom allergies. With this form of immunotherapy, a patient can essentially prevent serious illness from bee stings or spider bites long before they happen. In this sense, cluster immunotherapy works as a preventive measure for long term allergy sufferers when it comes to unexpected attacks.

Some doctors recommend taking antihistamines during treatment, while others may not advise it. Cluster immunotherapy is a treatment option that depends on a person's individual body, so it's important to consult a few professionals before jumping into it. It's important to consult various allergists to get a balanced opinion on cluster immunotherapy and how it can work in your life.