Hay fever is nasal inflammation caused by your immune system overreacting to allergens. This response is commonly triggered by pet hair and dust or pollen in the case of hay fever.
Although most people only experience mild hay fever symptoms, the allergy can be debilitating for some – especially those who haven’t responded to the treatments on offer over the counter or from an NHS GP.
It is an injection containing Triamcinolone Acetonide 40mg/1ml which is the active ingredient that belongs to a group of medicines commonly known as “Steroids” that work to reduce the body’s allergy and inflammatory response, this is a great way to treat Hay fever, but it does come with its risks too.
Whilst some people continue to treat their hay fever with over-the-counter treatments, most people find the allergies and condition so severe that the limited risks are worth having the injection.
The Hay fever Injection will not cure hay fever, but it will suppress the immune system to help ease symptoms.
If you are found to be suitable for treatment, and you wish to go ahead, we will disinfect the injection site (upper outer quadrant of one of the buttocks) before giving an intramuscular injection which is virtually pain-free.
A fast and easy treatment, the injection of a steroid is proven to be an effective hay fever prevention method for many people. The drug administered is completely safe and approved for use in the UK (the treatment was available from the NHS in the past and is routinely administered in other countries).
In most cases, following treatment, the injection relieves and reduces severe symptoms so that they can live a normal life without feeling tired and fatigued, for others it completely relieves symptoms.
In some instances, a second dose may need to be administered but this will be discussed with you and your practitioner.
Occasionally, due to the presence of adrenal steroid crystals underneath the skin, some patients may experience dermal/sub-dermal atrophy or changes in the make-up of the connective tissue and depressions in the skin at the site where the drug was administered. Whilst this injection is safe and is licensed for use in hay fever treatment, there are risks associated with the drug and it is important that you understand these.
Steroids are a powerful group of medications and they carry the same potential for risks and side effects as any other steroid. The difference with an injectable steroid is that the side effects would linger for at least three weeks whereas, with oral medication, any side effects would stop 24 hours after ceasing the treatment. This will be discussed in more detail with you at your consultation where you can ask any questions and be assessed for your suitability for the treatment.
Back to Wellbeing and Vaccinations
