Clinical Desensitiation Case Study
Your 20-year-old patient is going to start a clinical desensitization program for his allergy to pollen.
1. Describe the pathophysiologic changes to the immune system when exposed to allergens.
Allergy is “a hypersensitivity response against an environmental antigen (allergen); the most common are type 1 hypersensitivities (pollen, molds, fungi, certain foods, animal dander, dust). Others include Type II and Type III (rare but include antibiotics and soluble antigens produced by infectious agents) and Type IV (plant resins, metals, chemicals, detergents, and topical antibiotics)” (McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 269-70). The immune response in allergy begins with sensitization. When exposed to an allergen, the body produces immunoglobulin (IgE), an antibody …show more content…
Type IV- Delayed hypersensitivity; T-cells are activated by reexposure to antigen. Direct toxic effects that stimulate natural killer cells cause tissue damage. Examples include contact dermatitis , immune response to TB, and drug hypersensitivity.
(Delves, 2014, p. 1-3).
2. Formulate a care plan for the treatments to be given. Include the information you would give for your patient education.
Clinical desensitization to allergens is achieved when “minute quantities of the allergen are injected in increasing doses over a prolonged period”(McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 272). The allergy shot would contain just enough allergen to trigger a reaction and an immune response. There is an increase in the dose of allergens in each subcutaneous shot, thus the body is desensitized and immune system develops a tolerance reducing allergic symptoms over time. This occurs in two phases:
a. Build-up phase: Involves receiving injections with increasing amounts of the allergens 1-2 per week from 3-6 months
b. Maintenance phase: Begins once the effective dose is reached and depends on the patient’s response to the build-up dose. The periods of times between treatments is longer, ranging from 2-4 weeks
("Allergy Shots," 2015, p.
1. Describe the pathophysiologic changes to the immune system when exposed to allergens.
Allergy is “a hypersensitivity response against an environmental antigen (allergen); the most common are type 1 hypersensitivities (pollen, molds, fungi, certain foods, animal dander, dust). Others include Type II and Type III (rare but include antibiotics and soluble antigens produced by infectious agents) and Type IV (plant resins, metals, chemicals, detergents, and topical antibiotics)” (McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 269-70). The immune response in allergy begins with sensitization. When exposed to an allergen, the body produces immunoglobulin (IgE), an antibody …show more content…
Type IV- Delayed hypersensitivity; T-cells are activated by reexposure to antigen. Direct toxic effects that stimulate natural killer cells cause tissue damage. Examples include contact dermatitis , immune response to TB, and drug hypersensitivity.
(Delves, 2014, p. 1-3).
2. Formulate a care plan for the treatments to be given. Include the information you would give for your patient education.
Clinical desensitization to allergens is achieved when “minute quantities of the allergen are injected in increasing doses over a prolonged period”(McCance & Huether, 2014, p. 272). The allergy shot would contain just enough allergen to trigger a reaction and an immune response. There is an increase in the dose of allergens in each subcutaneous shot, thus the body is desensitized and immune system develops a tolerance reducing allergic symptoms over time. This occurs in two phases:
a. Build-up phase: Involves receiving injections with increasing amounts of the allergens 1-2 per week from 3-6 months
b. Maintenance phase: Begins once the effective dose is reached and depends on the patient’s response to the build-up dose. The periods of times between treatments is longer, ranging from 2-4 weeks
("Allergy Shots," 2015, p.