Pill could soon replace allergy shots for hay fever

Immunotherapy, in the form of allergy shots, has long been used to treat hay fever and certain other allergies. It is designed to help the body's immune system develop a tolerance for the allergenic substance, by exposing the body to tiny amounts of it over time.

However, immunotherapy is used only for a limited number of patients, because it is inconvenient and causes discomfort to patients. Also, the treatment requires weekly allergy shots for several months, followed by monthly ones for several years.
A recent research, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, supported the effectiveness of an oral form of immunotherapy using a rapidly dissolving grass allergen tablet called Grazax. The side effects of the treatment included throat irritation and itchiness and swelling in the mouth and ears. But according to the researchers there was no instances of serious allergic reaction to the therapy, which can sometimes happen with allergy shots.