MedifocusHealth

If symptomatic treatment is not effective or if symptoms are severe, it may be necessary to consult with an allergy specialist. Options to consider would include skin testing to determine specific allergens and possibly immunotherapy ("allergy shots") for long-term management of the condition. Children under the ages of 3 or 4 are usually not candidates for immunotherapy because of their inability to communicate signs of systemic reactions should they occur.

In one study of children between the ages of 6 and 14 with allergic rhinitis, those who had been treated with immunotherapy had a significantly lower rate of development of asthma than those who had not been treated. In addition, early treatment with allergen immunotherapy in children who were sensitive only to house dust mites reduced development of sensitivity to other allergens in the future.