2021 Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 121-130
Since the application of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) of house dust mite has been expanded to under 12 years old in 2018, there are still few reports of its clinical effects on children. We create our own evaluation table for 21 evaluation items and 17 side reactions of this therapy using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Using this table, we examined the therapeutic effect in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis caused by mites from the start until the 6th month and considered future challenges.
The average VAS score of 14 evaluation items significantly decreased during the observation period. The number of complaints of side reactions increased in the first month after the start of the therapy, itching in the oral cavity and throat were the most common. In this period, 20% of patients complained of pain during the therapy. 14 patients discontinued therapy and 3 of them complained of gastrointestinal side symptoms. Cedar pollen-specific IgE level were significantly higher in the discontinuation group than in the continuation group.
It was suggested that the clinical effect of SLIT in children can be expected from a relatively early stage. In order to continue long-term therapy more effectively, it can be said that active involvement with patients and guardians is important, such as giving sufficient explanation of side reactions and giving advice on how to deal with them appropriately.
