The Gold Coast Bulletin

Hayfever hope in daily tablet

- LUCIE VAN DEN BERG

A DAILY tablet dissolved under the tongue can protect people against spring hay fever and thundersto­rm asthma.

Australian scientists found it teaches the immune system to tolerate the allergen for up to a decade, if given daily for four months over three years.

By coincidenc­e, the Alfred Hospital trial occurred during the thundersto­rm asthma event in Melbourne in November 2016, which claimed nine lives and forced thousands to seek emergency medical treatment.

Among the patients on the trial who were taking the tablet, none developed the potentiall­y life-threatenin­g complicati­ons.

“None of our patients who had the treatment who were exposed to this event developed thundersto­rm asthma,” The Alfred’s Director Allergy Professor Robyn O’Hehir said yesterday.

Among the patients on the trial who were not taking the drug, 40 per cent had an asthma exacerbati­on and went to the doctors or emergency.

People who have spring hay fever are vulnerable to epidemic thundersto­rm asthma, which includes shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.

The drug used in the trial, Oralair, has already been shown to effectivel­y treat spring hay fever and many people who go through the desensitis­ation program do not need further treatment for up to 10 years.

The drug is on the Pharmaceut­ical Benefits Scheme, but people can access it for around $350 for four months with a referral to an allergist from their general practition­er. not

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