Allergy Shots: Prepare Your Child for Allergy Season

Along with warm weather and beautiful flowers, spring brings with it the ever-dreaded allergy season where sneezing, runny noses and allergiesitchy eyes run rampant. Are you and your children prepared? Learn more about preventing allergy attacks using allergy shots with help from your Marion, VA pediatrician.

How does an allergy shot work? 
Allergy shots build the body’s immunity to certain allergens and, over time, prevent or decrease the reactions associated with them. Allergy shots also help prevent flare-ups in children with asthma. Allergy shots contain a purified form of an allergen which is injected into the body by your doctor. Over the course of several months, the allergy shot’s strength is built up incrementally. Once the doses contain the highest safe amount of allergen, a maintenance dose given every 3 to 5 years helps keep allergic reactions away for the long run.

When is an allergy shot necessary? 
Most allergy tests use either a skin or blood test to determine the cause of allergic reactions. Skin tests can take the form of a prick test, intradermal test, or skin patch test. These tests use a small amount of various allergens placed onto the skin. Your doctor judges the skin’s reaction to the allergen to determine if the patient is allergic. A blood test examines the blood for antibodies, which the body creates in response to an allergy. While blood tests are less sensitive than skin tests, they are still effective in determining the presence of an allergy.

How can my Marion pediatrician help? 
Your pediatrician at Royal Oaks Pediatric Associates can perform an allergy test to determine if an allergy shot is necessary. If so, your doctor can work with you to develop the best treatment plan for your child. Allergy relief could be just a simple phone call away.

For more information on allergy shots for your child, please contact Dr. Anita B. Henley and Dr. George "Jeff" Jones at Royal Oaks Pediatric Associates in Marion, VA. Call (276) 783-8183 to schedule an allergy test or shot for your child today!