Sublingual immunotherapy is considered safe for home administration. However, the first dose must be given in a healthcare setting under the supervision of a physician with experience in diagnosis and treatment of allergic asthma. Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of a severe systemic or local allergic reaction following administration. It is also essential to prescribe autoinjectable epinephrine for any patient who is prescribed sublingual immunotherapy.
Anti-inflammatory medications such as inhaled corticosteroids are the cornerstone of asthma management, but they should not be used in patients with mild intermittent disease.
Allergen immunotherapy has been shown to be beneficial in patients with allergy-induced asthma. Allergen immunotherapy should be considered if specific allergens have a proven relationship to symptoms, a positive skin test result or radioallergosorbent test findings show sensitization, the allergen cannot be avoided and is present year-round, or if symptoms are poorly controlled with medical therapy, and if a vaccine to the allergen is available. This treatment is especially useful if a patient's asthma is associated with allergic rhinitis.
Biologic therapy for allergic asthma has been shown to reduce asthma exacerbations and oral corticosteroid use and dosages compared with placebo. Patients may also experience improvements in quality of life and a decrease in the use of rescue inhalers and emergency departments.
Learn more about pharmacologic options for the management of allergic asthma.
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Cite this: Zab Mosenifar. Fast Five Quiz: Allergic Asthma Management - Medscape - May 14, 2021.
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