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Immunotherapy is a viable option for the treatment of allergies. In simple terms, allergy immunotherapy is the process of desensitizing a person to what he or she is allergic to over a relatively extended period. The allergic patient's immune system is trained to be more tolerant of that substance causing the allergic reaction, referred to as the allergen. Partly because of the time frame involved and frequency of visits to the health professional, the process requires of the person seeking treatment a good measure of patience.

Many of those who choose to undergo allergy immunotherapy have sought relief from other treatments, with negative results. These include the person who may have tried every known drug for hay fever to no avail, or the allergy patient who exhibits reactions to medications prescribed for his or her allergic condition. In such cases, the specialist may have consequently recommended allergy immunotherapy as an alternative.

Besides patience, a cooperative approach is needed for the therapeutic course to succeed. Doctor and patient work out the requirements, and both have to be on the lookout for side-effects. The physician may ask the allergic patient to stay on after the immunotherapy shot is administered to enable him to monitor any adverse reaction.

The range of allergy sufferers who are eligible for allergy immunotherapy shot programs is wide. Persons who have had to endure chronic hay fever and reactions to bee and wasp stings are among those who may benefit immensely. Young and old alike can avail of this form of treatment, though little children may of course be averse to having injections. This shouldn't be a problem for adults; they can easily put up with being pierced by the very small needle used in allergy immunotherapy. The procedure is virtually painless.

Pregnant women are not included in the list of persons who may avail of allergy immunotherapy. Complications arising from severe reactions to the substance injected are a real possibility. There is no point here in risking the health of the mother and her unborn child. A doctor should have no second thoughts about discontinuing this mode of treatment if his patient gets pregnant during the course of therapy.

If chronic or incurable allergies have been your bane, ask your doctor about allergy immunotherapy and get as much information about it as you can. Who knows, the long-awaited answer to your problem may be near at hand.