Allergies cortisone injections are not a good choice

Specific immunotherapy Low side effects and effective
Tingling in the nose, runny nose and flushed, watery eyes - the pollen season is upon us. While most of them enjoy the fresh green of the trees, colorful early bloomers and warm sunshine in spring, allergies cause nausea, headaches and tiredness. While some people just try to spend time, people with more severe allergies can help themselves to decongestant nasal sprays or undergo cortisone therapy. Both are not a good choice, according to HNOnet-NRW, an association of established ENT doctors. Otolaryngologists recommend symptomatic treatment or specific immunotherapy (SIT).
"In an allergy, the immune system is hypersensitive to harmless substances such as pollen or animal hair," explains Dr. Uso Walter, ENT doctor from Duisburg and CEO of HNOnet NRW. Those who often resort to nasal sprays in self-treatment will permanently damage their nasal mucosa. Although the sprays initially bring relief, but when the effect of the decongestant substances through habituation subsides, it leads to increased circulation of the nasal mucosa. It swells more than before, dries out and, in the worst case, will cause permanent damage. More suitable is a treatment with a local cortisone spray. Since cortisone is not absorbed into the blood, it does not cause side effects. In contrast to decongestant nasal spray, it prevents swelling and thus ensures a clear nose. "Cortisone injections, which are still sometimes administered, are to be rejected," Walter.

Cortisone is not a good choice for allergies. Picture: Picture-Factory - fotolia

"The treatment method has long been recommended by professional societies because of possible side effects." Because an increased cortisone level in the blood suppresses not only the allergy, but immediately the immune system, and favors the development of diabetes. It can also adversely affect adrenocortical function and bone resorption. "There is with the specific immunotherapy a method for severe allergies, which has little side effects." For this, the patient should have an allergy test at the ENT doctor. Because only if the allergy-causing substance is known, a treatment, which is also known under the term hyposensitization, be successful. "The immune system learns by regular administration of the responsible substance in the form of syringes, drops or tablets, in the long term no longer allergic to react," explains Dr. med. Walter. Often a few treatments will take about three years to achieve this habituation effect. In 90 percent of patients, this therapy brings the desired success - usually lasting up to ten years. (Pm)