With recent medical findings showing that some allergy shots, even if the whole treatment is not completed, provide lasting benefits in allergy relief, more people may be considering going this route in their quest for allergy relief. While deciding if this is right for you (or your child), there may be some things worth thinking about.

The Mayo Clinic provides some excellent information on shots, procedures, what to expect and more on their website. Some of the facets covered here are:

How do shots work?
A brief overview describing that allergy shots contain a tiny amount of the allergen and that the amount is increased over time. The allergen is enough to build up immunity, but not enough to cause an allergic reaction. The build up phase and the maintenance phase are discussed, listing some pros and cons of an accelerated build up phase.

What allergies do allergy shots work for?
Unfortunately, there are no shots for food allergies at this time. However, you can go through immunotherapy for other allergens, including seasonal (such as pollen and hay fever), indoor (such as molds and cats), and insect allergies (such as wasps and bees). These factors are very difficult to control and/or avoid, so allergy shots are a viable option.

Are allergy shots recommended for everyone with allergies?
This topic covers who may be a good candidate for allergy shots (those with severe reactions to insects or those who don’t want to be on long term allergy medication) and who shots are not practical for (food allergy sufferers or people with other health problems).

Can allergy shots cause allergic reactions?
This topic covers some risks involved with allergy shots. Though they are generally safe, there are some risks such as local or systemic reactions, even very rarely, anaphylaxis. These reactions are not very common, however.

Weighing the pros and cons of allergy shots.
There are always factors to think about when deciding on a medical plan of action. This topic covers some of the things which may come into play, such as cost, severity of symptoms, avoidance possibilities and medication. It is a good idea to consider all of these factors when forming your opinion.

Some other topics covered are the safety of allergy shots in children, tests before shots are started and how long it takes to get relief. Take a look at this comprehensive article if you are considering shots for your allergies. You may find it answers many of your questions.