title: Immunotherapy for inhalant allergies. Guidelines for why, when, and how to use this treatment.
abstract: Great-grandma was probably on the right track when she said, "A little dirt won't hurt you. It builds immunity." In fact, some evidence suggests that our "hygienic" environment may be increasing our vulnerabilities to some maladies, especially allergic disorders. Although the principles of immunotherapy have been known for nearly a century, guidelines for its use are still evolving. In this article, Dr Portnoy discusses the role of immunotherapy in patients with symptoms triggered by airborne allergens.
authors.affiliation: Section of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. jportnoy@cmh.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Portnoy
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy; D000075202:Contraindications; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D018579:Patient Selection; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens