Runny nose, itchy eyes, constant sneezing — there’s no doubt hay fever is uncomfortable. Could an annual injection be the solution? L360 investigates.
From antihistamines and nasal sprays to decongestants and even natural remedies like honey, ways to ease to hay fever symptoms are plentiful. Sufferers have likely tried them all at least once, often in combination (while still steering clear of mixing medications, of course).
For years, the NHS offered routine hay fever injections such as Kenalog to help those who suffer from severe reactions, but it no longer does.
Intended to provide temporary relief, these injections were never meant to be long-term solutions, and growing concerns about their safety eventually led to a phase out. But as other injections like weight loss jabs become more normalised, we look at what it is and whether its safe to get it.
We spoke to Dr Tony Banerjee of HarleyDoc to find out everything you need to know.
What are hay fever injections, and how do they work?
Hay fever injections typically refer to a long-acting corticosteroid, with Kenalog (triamcinolone) being the most common. These jabs are given as deep intramuscular injections (directly into muscle tissue), which then slowly releases steroids into the blood stream over several weeks.
Dr Tony sees the “mechanism” of these jabs as “blunt”, suppressing the immune system, dampening the inflammatory response to pollen and therefore reducing symptoms such as sneezing, congestion and itchy eyes.
Rather than targeting the allergic response directly, it’s more of a “systemic steroid switch-off of the allergic response” — a blanket suppression of the immune system.
Why did the NHS discontinue hay fever jabs?
The NHS stopped offering the jabs due to safety and long-term health concerns. Plus, while the jabs can provide temporary relief, there’s little evidence to support long-term benefits. For Dr Tony, the risk of serious side effects outweighs their usefulness.
Before their discontinuation in 2018, there had already been growing concern over their use. Yet, many private clinics now continue to offer the injections, and some even offer repeat dosing throughout the hay fever season — a practice Dr Tony strongly advises cautions against, especially considering Kenalog isn’t an officially licensed hay fever treatment in the UK.
Read more: 8 ways to alleviate hay fever symptoms this summer — including an innovative new gadget
What are the side effects of hay fever injections?
Like most medications, the hay fever jab isn’t without its potential side effects. Known ones include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Water retention
- Skin rashes
- Muscle weakness
- Breathing difficulties (rare cases)
- Stomach pain in the days following
- Insomnia
- Mental health issues such as mood swings, depression anxiety
Safer alternatives to hay fever injections
Allergy specialist Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe BEM suggests other routes.
Safer alternatives exist, such as non-drowsy oral antihistamines, intranasal steroid sprays and antihistamine eye drops, which can be effective in short-term relief, and in more severe cases, oral steroids can make a difference (usually as part of a combined therapy treatment).
Beyond this, she’ll often advise certain lifestyle changes, such as:
- Keep windows open for short periods of less than 15 minutes to help reduce pollen build up indoors
- Avoid drying clothes outside during high pollen days to help limit exposure
- Drink quercetin-rich teas such as nettle or fennel, which may support the body’s natural antihistamine response
- Apply natural barrier creams containing ingredients like aloe vera or shea butter around the nostrils to reduce pollen entering the airways
Read more: How to find out if you have a food allergy or an intolerance
For long term or severe cases, allergen immunotherapy is the best solution, says Dr Clare. The treatment aims to retrain the immune system by gradually exposing it to small amounts of the allergen over time.
It’s only offered to selected patients and usually after referral to a specialist allergy or ENT service. But it’s an MHRA-approved, on-label option available both privately and on the NHS.
Feature image: Freepik
