New aspects on allergen-specific immunotherapy in bronchial asthma

In the vast majority of children and adolescents with bronchial asthma there is an allergic sensitization against aeroallergens. An allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is principally indicated if a confirmed allergic sensitization is associated with clinical symptoms. Prerequisites are a) the availability of a standardized preparation with proven efficacy and safety in clinical trials and that b) the asthmatic complaints must be controlled. In the daily clinical routine the indications for the treatment option with AIT are often overlooked. The intermittent course of asthmatic symptoms complicate the adherence and compliance of children and their parents to a 3-year long treatment; however, the potential of AIT as a causal treatment option should be discussed for asthma patients, ideally directly after diagnosing allergic asthma.