Allergy Immunotherapy in Malaysia: Long-Term Relief

Every Month, It’s Jab Time!

Every month, I roll up my sleeve for my allergy shot. Left arm this time, right arm last time. Before each jab, we run through a quick checklist:

• Have you taken your antihistamine? Check ✅
• Do you have any current illness? Any Cough or Cold? Check ✅
• The last time you received your jab, did you get any reactions? Check ✅

These safety steps are our Allergy Immunology Clinic protocol for injection immunotherapy

What Is Allergen Immunotherapy?

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) trains your immune system to tolerate triggers instead of over-reacting. Over 3–5 years, controlled doses of your specific allergens help you achieve lasting remission – symptoms diminish, and benefits often stick around for years after you finish treatment.

Malaysian Guidelines & Local Context

MSAI Consensus on AIT in Malaysia

I am one of the co-authors for the Malaysian Society of Allergy & Immunology’s consensus on AIT. We outlined patient selection, product choice, and treatment strategies for AIT. This ensures standardized, evidence-based care across Malaysian clinics.

I want to highlight that Allergen immunotherapy can be used as a first-line treatment for patients with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Especially in those who prefer a treatment with the potential for long-term remission.

Who Should Consider Immunotherapy?

AIT is recommended for patients who:

• Struggle with moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis despite meds. MDPI
• Rely on inhalers daily for asthma.
• Suffer eczema flares tied to specific environmental allergens.
• Want to prevent rhinitis from progressing to asthma (especially in kids). Medical Journal of Malaysia

SCIT vs. SLIT: Which Fits You?

Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT)

• Protocol: Weekly build-up (3–6 months), then monthly maintenance (3–5 years).
• Location: In-clinic with a 30-minute observation window.

• Powerhouse: Gold standard for dust mites, pollens, insect venom. AAAAI

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)

• Protocol: Daily under-tongue dose at home (after first supervised dose).
• Convenience: Great for single allergens like dust mites or pets.
• Compliance: High when patients understand the payoff.

Your AIT Journey—What to Expect

1. Assessment: Skin prick or specific IgE tests pinpoint triggers.
2. Planning: We choose SCIT or SLIT based on your lifestyle and allergies.
3. Build-Up: Gradual dose increases to reach your “sweet spot.”
4. Maintenance: Consistent dosing with periodic check-ins.
5. Results: The clinical remission of Allergic rhinitis was achieved in 72.5% of patients treated with immunotherapy. Pubmed

FAQs About Allergy Immunotherapy in Malaysia

• How soon will I feel better?
  Most patients notice significant relief within 6–12 months.

• Is it safe?
  SLIT side effects are mild (itchy mouth). Serious reactions to SCIT are extremely rare (<1 per million injections).

• What’s the cost?
  Expect MYR 2,200–7,200 / year, depending on allergens and modality.

• Can children do AIT?
  Absolutely—kids as young as five can start, helping prevent the “allergic march.”

Real-World Success: A Kuala Lumpur Case Study

I want to share my success story from AIT for allergic rhinitis.

I used to sneeze every morning. At night, my nose would be congested. I would develop prolonged post nasal drip cough after viral infections.

There were even instances where my eyes were swollen after lying down on my dusty sofa.

I underwent skin prick test, I am allergic to house dust mites and grass pollen.

As an Allergist/Immunologist, I have to eat my own cooking!

And so I did immunotherapy on myself. So I can explain to you what it is all about. 

I did sublingual immunotherapy for 2 years to house dust mites. I found improvement but I still have symptoms and I wanted to target my grass allergy. So I switched to injection immunotherapy to target both house dust mites and grass pollen.

After 3 years of injection immunotherapy, my grass pollen allergy disappeared on skin prick test. Yay! So grass immunotherapy was completed and stopped.

I still have positive reaction to dust mites, so I am continuing for 2 more years to remove my dust mite allergy.

Take the Next Step: Book Your Consultation

If you’re in Malaysia and seeking a long-term solution for allergies, consult The Allergy Immunology Clinic team. Our clinic offers both SCIT and SLIT, tailored to your needs, with the latest and most effective protocols.

📌 Book your allergy immunotherapy consultation in Kuala Lumpur today!