Allergy shots help the body build a type of immunity to specific allergens that eventually can prevent or "block" the allergen from triggering symptoms when your child is exposed. These shots contain a purified form of the allergens that are causing problems for your child. The course of shots is usually given over a 5-year period. The dosage of the allergen is gradually increased over the first 4 to 6 months to a maintenance dose, which is generally given for up to 3 years.
If you decide to undertake allergen immunology, your child may begin receiving shots containing very small doses of allergen once or twice a week. The dose is slowly increased with each shot to allow the immune system to safely adjust and build immunity to the allergens. This is called the buildup phase. Your child may not get symptom relief from allergies until higher doses are achieved at the end of the buildup phase. Once the highest effective and safe dose is reached, the frequency of shots gradually decreases to weekly, then bi-weekly, and then possibly monthly. This is called maintenance.
