> Sublingual immunotherapy - in which the immune system is primed by
> exposure to allergens in liquid concentrate form dripped and held for
> a few minutes under the tongue - is a very promising and safe new way
> of treating asthma, allergic rhinitis (runny nose) and other
> allergy-related conditions in all age groups, according to researchers
> at the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus.

> Writing in Harefuah, the Hebrew-language journal of the Israel Medical
> Association, Prof. Monda Iancovici Kidon and Prof. David Nelken note
> that conventional immunotherapy consists of injecting agents into the
> skin in increasing amounts and on a controlled basis; this causes the
> body's immune system gradually to produce antibodies and minimize the
> allergic response. The down side is that the injected allergens may
> cause side effects such as redness, swelling and pain at the injection
> site (which is especially difficult for children), nasal drip,
> constriction of the bronchi and even anaphylactic shock.

> The authors looked at numerous controlled studies of sublingual
> treatment published since 1985 and concluded that it has great
> potential in replacing injections, even though larger clinical studies
> are needed. The mechanism for sublingual therapy in which the allergen
> passes through the digestive system is not yet well understood, but it
> works. Published studies showed that sublingual immunotherapy was
> nearly as effective in minimizing allergies as injections.