From Martine Bye, children had large parts of the spring and summer affected by severe allergy symptoms. Headache, itchy, red eyes, runny nose and intense sneezing. The window had to be closed, even when there was little pollen spread. She couldn’t bear to go out unless it rained. She had to wash her hair and clothes often. – Now I’ve finally got a weekday where I don’t have to be afraid of being congested or getting a headache if the sun is forecast, says the 30-year-old teacher. Birch pollen is the most common form of pollen allergy. Birch has large amounts of pollen, and can therefore cause major problems. Not really a vaccine Every morning for a year and a half, Martine Bye has placed a disintegrating tablet under her tongue. In this way, the body has gradually been exposed to an increasingly strong dose of the allergen it cannot tolerate. Now she takes three tablets – because she is vaccinated against three different allergies. Tree pollen, grass pollen and house dust mite, which are the vaccines available now. The process is called hyposensitization. Through gradual exposure, the body gets used to allergens it cannot tolerate. Photo: Amanda iversen Orlich / news – To begin with, my throat and around my mouth swelled up a bit, but it decreased within half an hour. Then it was a bit difficult to swallow, says Bye. Now that her body has got used to the allergen, she no longer notices anything when she takes the tablet. For her, it was decisive that it was a tablet treatment and not through injections as before: – I had only heard about the injection vaccines. I am not very fond of syringes, and have therefore stayed away. As soon as I heard about the dissolving tablets, a lot of new possibilities opened up. Martine must take three tablets daily for three years. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news Only for those who are hardest hit But not everyone can get the new allergy vaccine. Only those with moderate to severe allergy symptoms can receive the treatment on a blue prescription. – You must have ailments that affect your daily life, says Ingrid Aas, senior physician at the Norwegian Medicines Agency. There may be pronounced symptoms in the eyes, mouth and nose that normal allergy medicines do not have a good enough effect on. The best thing is to contact the GP, get a prescription and then the first tablet is taken under the doctor’s supervision. This is because you can get reactions similar to allergic reactions, explains Aas. Ingrid Aas, a senior physician at the Norwegian Medicines Agency, encourages those who suffer from allergies to contact their GP to be assessed whether they can get an allergy vaccine. Photo: Caroline Roka/Statens Legemidelverk – Many people can benefit from such treatment, but unfortunately not all. No one gets any effect. Therefore, it is a point to start well before the pollen season so that you can interrupt the treatment if it does not work, says Aas. Is there anyone who should not take this treatment? – People with poorly controlled asthma, or who have diseases that affect the immune system, should not take this treatment. Pregnant women should not start such treatment either, but it is fine to continue with it if one has already started, says Aas. This is allergy vaccination Allergy vaccination is a treatment option for long-term and severe allergies. It is an alternative for those who do not get good enough control over the allergy with medication. The treatment is also called hyposensitization, or allergen immunotherapy. Allergy vaccination means that you are exposed to an extract from the allergen you cannot tolerate. This way the body can build up a tolerance over time. The treatment is used in the treatment of allergies to grass and birch pollen, house dust and wasps or bees. Allergy vaccination is given as either an injection or a dissolvable tablet. Tablets must be taken daily, and the treatment takes place over three years. Injections are given every eight weeks for three to five years. For most, the effect will be lasting, but some will not experience lasting improvement. Source: Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association More people should take the vaccine The sale of allergy vaccine packages has almost doubled. In 2019, 50,000 packs were sold, in 2021 a whopping 90,000 packs, according to the Norwegian Medicines Agency. The Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association believes that far more people should receive this treatment. Anna Bistrup of the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association believes that more people should vaccinate against pollen. Photo: Tiril Mettesdatter Solvang / news – We see that the pollen season lowers productivity. People have increased sick leave from work and school. It’s not just a personal problem, but a socio-economic problem, says Anne Bistrup, who is senior advisor for health and public relations at NAAF. According to them, 85 percent get completely or much better after 5 years of treatment. Bistrup believes that many people do not know about the treatment: Martine Bye is already brilliantly satisfied, halfway through the treatment. She believes that more people can benefit from the same treatment. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news – I think it’s about information and knowledge, and that some people don’t talk to their doctor about the fact that they have a number of problems. And that the doctor also does not ask the patient if they are satisfied with the treatment they are receiving today. New life in the pollen season On Friday, the meteorologists reported a heavy spread of birch pollen from Agder to Trøndelag. There is also the modest to moderate spread of salix in the same area. This year’s season seems to be stronger than last year. Martine Bye is already brilliantly satisfied, halfway through the treatment. She believes that more people can benefit from the same treatment. – Now I can even drive with the window open in the car! I can lie down in the grass carefree. I don’t have to think so much about who I am or how I do things during the pollen season, she concludes.
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The Allergy Association believes more people should vaccinate against pollen – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
