If you have been taking your child to an allergist recently and they have recommended allergy shots as a part of your child's allergy management and treatment, then you may find yourself unsure about what lies ahead. When neither you or anyone else in your family has ever needed allergy shots before, it can be easy to get worried about whether allergy shots are the right choice for your child's health. Get to know some of the facts you should know about allergy shots. Then you can be sure that you are prepared to help your child through the allergy shot process. 

Allergy Shots Help Build Up Tolerance to Allergens

When your child has allergies, their body and immune system react to allergens in ways that are out of the norm for the human body. In other words, while a person without allergies would have no immune system reaction to cat dander, the person with a cat dander allergy would have an immune system that attacks that dander as if it were an infectious disease or other major threat to health. 

Allergy shots are designed to reduce that immune system reaction over time. The shots contain the allergens that your child is allergic to and will continually expose the immune system to small amounts of that allergen. Over time, the immune system reaction to those allergens in everyday amounts will be less severe, reducing allergy symptoms. This can help your child to live a more comfortable life, be able to own pets, and be able to get outside without feeling completely miserable. The quality of life benefits of allergy shots cannot be understated. 

You Will Need to Stick to the Shot Schedule

For allergy shots to be effective, they need to be given at the right intervals. Doctors carefully plan the shot dosages and when any increases in the amount of allergens in the shots will occur. As such, sticking to the shot schedule given to you by your child's allergist is very important. 

Sometimes this schedule can include getting shots several times a week while other schedules can involve once weekly shots. As time goes on, the shot schedule may lighten, but it will still be important to stay on schedule. The exception is if your child is sick when they are due for a shot. It is not recommended that children who are ill with a weakened immune system receive allergy shots as the reactions to the allergens can be more severe. 

Now that you know some of the facts to know if your child is going to be beginning allergy shots, you can feel more prepared for and informed about the process going forward.

For more information on getting allergy shots, contact a clinic like North Texas Allergy.

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