Immunotherapy for Environmental Allergens

Become Less Reactive to Environmental Allergens

Allergen immunotherapy is a specialised treatment that helps the immune system become less reactive to environmental allergens such as dust mites, pollens/ grasses, or animal dander. Unlike regular allergy medications that only control symptoms, immunotherapy targets the underlying cause of allergy and can provide long-lasting improvement even after treatment is completed.

Two main forms are used: Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT), given as a series of injections under the skin, and Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT), given as daily drops or tablets under the tongue. Both methods gradually expose the immune system to small amounts of allergen, allowing it to build tolerance safely over time.

Immunotherapy can be considered from around 3–5 years of age, depending on the patient’s ability to cooperate and the severity of allergic symptoms such as hay fever or allergic asthma. In our clinic the treatment is personalised, monitored by an allergy specialist, and has an excellent safety record when performed in a supervised medical setting.

For many children and adults, immunotherapy leads to significant symptom relief, reduced medication use, and improved quality of life often offering a long-term solution to allergic disease.

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Questions? We got you.

How do I book an appointment?

The first step in booking an appointment is to obtain a referral from your GP or another specialist. While a referral is not required, having one enables you to claim applicable Medicare rebates and helps our team appropriately triage your condition for review. Once you have your referral, you can schedule an appointment by booking online or contacting our practice directly and uploading your referral – our team will be in touch to schedule an appointment

Please bring a valid referral letter, Medicare card, and any recent investigation results, previous skin prick or patch testing reports, and relevant medical correspondence. For children, bringing their red book with recent growth measurements is also helpful.

Avoid antihistamines for 3–5 days before your appointment, as they can affect skin testing. You may continue nose sprays, asthma medications, antibiotics, and steroid creams. Do not apply moisturisers or topical steroids on areas likely to be tested (for example forearms, legs, back).

If you are suffering from a condition that you need to take oral anti histamines or steroids to control to manage your symptoms, continue to take those medications. Our doctors can arrange other forms of testing if required after the consultation.

Initial appointments approximately take around an hour, which may include skin prick testing if required. Follow-up appointments are typically shorter.

We prefer face-to-face appointments but we also offer telehealth consultations for selected patients or circumstances.

Harmony Allergy & Immunology Clinic is conveniently accessible by public transport, including Translink bus services. The Sunnybank clinic offers free onsite parking and street parking is also available around the Sunnybank hospital.

Skin prick testing applies a small amount of allergen (commercial extract or fresh food) to the skin which is then gently pricked to check for a reaction. The test takes 1–2 minutes, with results read after 15–20 minutes. Your doctor will determine if it’s appropriate for you.

Allergy testing is done by trained staff in a fully equipped medical setting. Reactions are rare, usually limited to mild itchiness at the test site, and can be promptly treated if needed.

Ensure you are well and avoid antihistamines 3–5 days before the test. Bring entertainment (toys, books, iPad, laptops) and for children, their favourite foods. You may need to bring the food or drug being tested which the staff will advise. We do not recommend bringing siblings; if necessary, bring an extra support person.

Ensure you are well before your appointment. You will be monitored by a health practitioner for at least 30 minutes after your immunotherapy dose. If taking your medication or vaccine home, please bring a small cooler with ice pack.

Are you ready to request an appointment?

Schedule a consultation with our experts to discuss your allergy needs.