Allergy Care
Immunotherapy
Allergy shots and sublingual therapy for grass pollens, house dust mites, and bee venom.
Allergen Immunotherapy (AIT) is the only proven disease-modifying treatment for allergic conditions. Unlike antihistamines or steroids that simply mask symptoms, immunotherapy re-trains the immune system to tolerate allergens — achieving long-term remission that often persists for years after the course is completed. Dr. Ravikant Zala has over two decades of experience designing and supervising successful AIT programmes.
What Is Immunotherapy?
AIT works by exposing the immune system to gradually increasing doses of the allergen, shifting the immune response from an overreactive (allergic) pattern to a tolerant one. Two delivery routes are available at Zala Clinic:
- Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) — allergy injections given in clinic, typically weekly then monthly
- Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) — drops or tablets taken under the tongue daily at home
- Both routes are effective; the choice depends on allergen type, patient preference, and compliance
Conditions Treated With AIT
Immunotherapy is clinically proven for a range of allergen-driven conditions:
- Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) — grass pollens, tree pollens, weed pollens, parietaria
- Allergic Asthma — house dust mites, Alternaria mould spores
- Atopic Dermatitis — house dust mite-sensitised patients
- Stinging Insect Venom Allergy — bee, wasp, yellow jacket (can be life-saving in anaphylaxis-risk patients)
- Cat and dog dander allergy — SCIT is particularly effective
- Cockroach allergy — highly relevant in urban Indian settings
What to Expect
A typical AIT programme involves:
- Pre-treatment testing to confirm relevant sensitisation and exclude contraindications
- Build-up phase (SCIT): weekly injections over 4–6 months with increasing doses
- Maintenance phase: monthly injections for 3–5 years
- SLIT: daily home dosing from day one, maintenance continued for 3 years
- 30-minute post-injection observation at clinic for safety monitoring
- Progressive reduction in medication requirements — most patients reduce antihistamine and steroid use significantly
Safety & Effectiveness
When properly supervised, immunotherapy has an excellent safety profile. Mild local reactions (swelling, redness at the injection site) are common and transient. Systemic reactions are rare and managed immediately in clinic. Studies consistently show 80–90% of patients experience significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life. For venom allergy, protection rates exceed 95% — making it a potentially life-saving intervention for at-risk patients.
Dr. Ravikant Zala
MBBS · Allergy Specialist