Showing papers in "Clinical allergy and immunology in 2008"

Subcutaneous immunotherapy for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic asthma, and prevention of allergic diseases.

Abstract: Published studies indicate that Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) is an effective treatment of allergic airway diseases, under the conditions of a careful selection of patients and the use of quality allergen extracts for treatment vaccines. Risk/benefit assessments of both the allergic disease and treatment options are important for evaluating the indication for SCIT. Allergic rhinitis, the most common allergic disease, affects about 20% of the adult population. Allergic asthma varies in prevalence in different countries, but in the Western world, it usually affects more than 5% of the population. For patients with a constant need for preventive pharmacotherapy, early initiation of allergen immunotherapy is advantageous, while the severity of the disease is modest and when the possibility of prevention of asthma is the greatest. Asthma is potentially more severe than rhinitis in relation to acute attacks, hospital admissions, and possibly in days of missed work or school. Furthermore, asthma may develop into chronic, irreversible pulmonary impairment.

Instructions and consent forms for subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy.

Abstract: The primary objective of allergy skin test and allergen immunotherapy (AIT) forms is to provide sufficient information to be universally interpreted by physicians and other health-care professionals, regardless of their practice location or training program. The recommended information to be included in the forms is outlined in the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters (JTPP): “Allergen Immunotherapy: A Practice Parameter Third Update”. This chapter reviews the guidelines and recommendations and includes examples of the standardized immunotherapy and allergy skin test forms developed by the AAAAI’s Immunotherapy, Allergen Standardization and Allergy Diagnostic Testing Committee and the JTPP. Allergy immunotherapy administration forms should include patient information, allergen vaccine information, and administration information. Administration information on the AIT form should include date, dose, arm in which dose administered, side effects, and initials of the professional was administering the injection.