Efficacy and safety of allergen immunotherapy in children

Specific immunotherapy has been demonstrated to have some protective effect against the development of additional sensitivities in the monosensitized child and to reduce the risk of developing asthma in children with allergic rhinitis. Because of the modification of the underlying immune process, the beneficial effects of immunotherapy persist for a long but not yet fully determined period after the cessation of treatment. This persisting effect makes immunotherapy an attractive supplement to symptomatic treatment of children with allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis. The treatment is not without risk, however, especially in the child with asthma, so it should be administered with caution.