Shots stop allergic reactions to venom. (Biomedicine).For some people living in Australia, jack jumper ants The jack jumper ant, hopper ant or jumper ant, Myrmecia pilosula, is a species of bulldog ant that is native to Australia. The ants are recorded throughout the country, but are most often found in Tasmania, rural Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital (Myrmecia pilosula) are no picnic. Nearly 3 percent of people in the state of Tasmania, for example, are allergic to the stings of these ants. Such reactions can be fatal if not treated promptly. Scientists have now successfully tested a venom-based therapy against the allergy. It's the first so-called desensitization therapy desensitization therapy Allergy desensitization, immunotherapy Immunology Stimulation of the immune system with gradual ↑ doses of the substances to which a person is allergic–to modify or stop allergic responses, ↓ IgE and its effect on the to use ant venom, says Simon G.A. Brown of the Royal Hobart Hospital The Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH or 'The Royal' as its often known) is the largest hospital in Tasmania, Australia. It is a public hospital managed by the Tasmanian Government. 'The Royal' is located in central Hobart. in Tasmania. In desensitization therapy, a person receives injections of small amounts of an allergen allergen /al·ler·gen/ (al´er-jen) an antigenic substance capable of producing immediate hypersensitivity (allergy).allergen´ic pollen allergen . Physicians have used venom from bees and some other insects to desensitize de·sen·si·tize v. 1. To render insensitive or less sensitive, as a nerve or tooth. 2. To make an individual nonreactive or insensitive to an antigen. 3. people to those stings, but such therapy for ant stings has depended on extracts of whole ant bodies and has been only partially effective, says Brown. He and his colleagues gave 20 or more injections of pure ant venom over several months to 23 healthy volunteers with the venom allergy, while 29 others with the same allergy received an inert substance. A week after the last shot, all the volunteers came back to the hospital where doctors allowed an ant to sting them twice. Dangerous systemic allergic reactions, such as dropping blood pressure, occurred in 21 of the 29 people who had received the inert shots, whereas none of the 23 desensitized de·sen·si·tize tr.v. de·sen·si·tized, de·sen·si·tiz·ing, de·sen·si·tiz·es 1. To render insensitive or less sensitive. 2. Immunology To make (an individual) nonreactive or insensitive to an antigen. volunteers had a reaction, the scientists report in the March 22 Lancet. The new study "is the first to show that effective immunotherapy can be provided for ant-sting allergy" says Brown.--N.S. |
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