Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tektools.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!daemon!tektools!lizv From: lizv@tektools.UUCP (Liz Vaughan) Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: Allergies Message-ID: <239@tektools.UUCP> Date: Fri, 17-May-85 14:25:42 EDT Article-I.D.: tektools.239 Posted: Fri May 17 14:25:42 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 19-May-85 00:18:50 EDT References: <211@unc.UUCP> Reply-To: lizv@tektools.UUCP (Liz Vaughan) Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR Lines: 69 >In article yrdbrd@bmcg.UUCP (Larry J. Huntley) writes: >> >>1. Is anyone familiar with an example of an allergic person who has >> used hyposensitization therapy and has actually improved? Do you >> know anyone who has been told (by their allergist) "Well, I guess >> we can stop with the injections now"? >> >>2. Is the long-term usage of antihistamine preparations known to be >> free of unwanted side-effects or is there some nastiness here I >> should be aware of? As a child, my sister had TERRIBLE allergies -- we had to move to get her out of the pollen/smog in Los Angeles. She struggled along in and out of the hospital till she was 4 and "big enough" for allergy shots. As I recall, they didn't want to start shots 'till she was at least 35 pounds; something about dosages. The scratch tests were something of a nightmare -- 4 year-olds have tiny backs, so you can't do as many tests at once. Once they started the actual shot therapy, there was DRAMATIC improvement almost overnight. Suddenly this pale, fragile creature turned into a real person -- she could go outside, run (could never catch her breath before) and DO things. Even more dramatic was the personality change -- she'd always been totally dependent on everyone, a result of being very ill most of her life. Suddenly she was one of the other kids; her interest in life skyrocketed. The transition to being "well" (and hence not pampered) caused some problems ("spoiled rotten" comes to mind) but I shudder to think what it would be like if she'd been that dependent on people as an adult. She continued on shots (gradually decreasing from 3x a week to once a month) 'till she was 10; they pronounced her "de-sensitized", but told her to keep an eye on it. At about age 13, her allergies reappeared in force. Apparently this is quite common; puberty (and menopause) can wreak havoc with the delicate balances of the immune system. She re-started shots, and stayed on them for about 5 years. At this point, she has fewer allergy problems than I do -- more like mild "hay fever" than anything else. In addition to shots, she also took VERY strong antihistamines several times a day for most of the time she was on shot therapy. One thing to watch for is tolerance -- you'll periodically have to change antihistamines to keep their effectiveness up. She used to alternate months. As far as we know, there were no vile side effects of all this, other than the occasional drowsiness (which decreases as you get tolerant) and "cottonmouth" normally associated with antihistamines. THE MORAL OF THE STORY -- If your kid has serious allergy problems, PLEASE consider getting shots. It may seem expensive, but the benefits can be enormous -- emotional ones as well as the obvious improved health. (Another benefit: after 10+ years of allergy shots, you'll have NO fear of needles :-) Be aware, however, that it may be better to wait 'till after puberty to start an older child; there's no point in starting at 10, making some progress and having to start all over 3 years later. Good luck Liz Vaughan tektronix!tektools!lizv