| Abstract: |
Immunotherapy plays an important role in otorhinolarngology practice especially cancers, allergy ,and otitis media. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy that utilizes a person’s natural immune defense system to fight diseases. Immunotherapy for cancer is essentially the stimulation of the immune system via a variety of reagents such as vaccines, infusion of T cells, or cytokines. These reagents act through one of several mechanisms:1) by stimulating the antitumor response, either by increasing the number of effector cells or by producing one or more soluble mediators such as lymphokines.2) by decreasing suppressor mechanisms.3) by altering tumor cells to increase their immunogenicity and make them more susceptible to immunologic defenses.4) by improving tolerance to cytotoxic drugs or radiotherapy, such as stimulating bone marrow function with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).There are several types of immunotherapy, including monoclonal antibodies, non-specific immunotherapies, and cancer vaccines. Mechanism of Immunotherapy in allergy containing a specific allergen which interacts with the immune system to decrease allergic sensitivity. Commonly the allergen is taken once a day. The antigen persists on the mucosal surface and is taken up by dendritic cells which interact with T lymphocytes (T-cells). Sublingual immunotherapy takes advantage of each individuals ability to develop immunologic tolerance to non-pathogenic antigens such as those in foods and in resident bacteria.Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is an allergy treatment involving introduction of trace amounts of allergens under the tongue to a patient to decrease sensitivity over time. It is an alternative to injections, also known as allergy shots. Long term changes that occur with immunotherapy include a decrease in mast cell sensitivity and a decrease in IgE production by B-cells. With sublingual immunotherapy there is a decrease in the IgE/IgGSymptomatic treatment options for allergies include over the counter medications such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and short-term prednisone. Biologics such as anti-IgE anti-bodies have been used in severe cases. Allergy immunotherapy is the only treatment directed at resolving the underlying cause of allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy has been delivered by various routes including oral, nasal, sublingual and subcutaneous. Of these, only subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and more recently sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) are currently widely used in clinical practice. Allergen immunotherapy is safe and has been shown to be effective in the treatment of stinging-insect hypersensitivity, allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis, and allergic asthma. Allergen immunotherapy is not effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis, urticaria, or headaches and is potentially dangerous if used for food or antibiotic allergies.The relation between allergy and OME will remain controversial until well-controlled clinical studies are conducted documenting that in select populations anti-allergy therapy is efficacious in preventing or limiting the duration of OME. Relation of allergy as a risk or perhaps contributing factor in cases of recurrent otorrhea. Certainly allergy puts a patient at risk for recurrent sinus infections as it adds to conditions which can lead to an environment that is suitable for mucous stasis, bacterial overgrowth, and chronic inflammation The middle ear, which is identical in its mucosal lining to a sinus, would be expected to behave similarly as a part of a unified airway.
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