When Allergy Shots Are A Family Thing
A San Antonio family is bonding in a new way – they’re treating their allergies and asthma together. It’s an unexpected enjoyment that’s become a shared pastime, thanks to allergies to dust mites, mountain cedar, oak pollen, cockroach, and more. The now routine visits have even made them question whether allergies might be hereditary. Three people in the Jackson family have become regulars at Juniper Allergy, located in the Stone Oak area of San Antonio, one of the ten worst cities in America for allergies in 2022.
Allergy Diagnosis
The first in the family to be diagnosed with allergies is the oldest. She also has asthma. As a runner, her asthma seemed to be exacerbated by things other than exercise. Turns out, she had environmental allergies that would trigger asthma episodes and symptoms such as shortness of breath. So, the athlete started allergy immunotherapy, more commonly called allergy shots. Not only did it help her tolerate the toughest of allergy seasons, allergy immunotherapy also helped keep her asthma in check. But it wasn’t just this oldest daughter who seemed to battle year-round with miserable allergens such as tree and weed pollen.
The Jackson family’s middle daughter was also bothered by allergies. In fact, Ashley Jackson says her daughter Kate seemed to be allergic to “all of Texas and then some”, since she was born. She basically grew up taking antihistamines. “Allergies affected my ears a lot – my hearing wasn’t the best for a long time. I tolerated it because I didn’t know it could go away,” Kate said. Following in her sister’s footsteps, Kate began allergy shots too.
“My summer allergies used to be so bad but now that I’m on allergy shots I can breathe and hear better,” said Kate. “Summer activities like summer camp are way more fun now.”
Family Bonding
Seeing the successes of not one but two of her daughters, Ashley Jackson thought to herself why am I not on allergy shots too?! Ashley is not allergic to most of Texas like Kate, however, she is highly allergic to mountain cedar pollen. It drops right around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons in South Texas. “I’d want to close my eyes and do nothing,” remarked Ashley.
“It’s the worst time of the year to not feel well.” As one would probably guess, Ashley began allergy injections too. In fact, she began her build up at the time her daughter Kate was doing her one-year allergy serum remix.
So the two began coming in together – and continued on the same shot schedule. “It is super fun to me as a mom of a 14-year-old,” Ashley said while smiling.
“She tended to be a little apprehensive with her shots so she asks me to hold her hand each time and I love it.”
Family Bonding
Seeing the successes of not one but two of her daughters, Ashley Jackson thought to herself why am I not on allergy shots too?! Ashley is not allergic to most of Texas like Kate, however, she is highly allergic to mountain cedar pollen. It drops right around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons in South Texas. “I’d want to close my eyes and do nothing,” remarked Ashley.
“It’s the worst time of the year to not feel well.” As one would probably guess, Ashley began allergy injections too. In fact, she began her build up at the time her daughter Kate was doing her one-year allergy serum remix.
So the two began coming in together – and continued on the same shot schedule. “It is super fun to me as a mom of a 14-year-old,” Ashley said while smiling.
“She tended to be a little apprehensive with her shots so she asks me to hold her hand each time and I love it.”
Allergies & Genetics
With three people within the same family all of whom are allergic to many of the same allergens it makes one wonder if allergies are genetic. It’s a question Dr. Amanda Trott-Gregorio gets often. “Allergies are highly genetic,” reported Dr. Trott-Gregorio. “If one parent has environmental allergies, the child has a 50% risk of allergies.” Dr. Trott-Gregorio said the trend continues upward. If two parents have environmental allergies, the child has a nearly 100% chance of having allergies.
And there’s more.
New research pins a connection between parent and child and allergy risk more specifically on mom.The study suggested that non-generic factors related to mothers such as factors present in the uterus during pregnancy may confer an added risk of allergies to children early in life.
By the time the children were 6 years old, both parents presented the same risk. This suggests that non-genetic factors related to mothers — such as factors present in the uterus during pregnancy — may confer an added risk of allergies and asthma to children.
Dr. Trott’s Approach
Dr. Trott-Gregorio says the link between parents with allergies who have kids with allergies is clearly visible within her allergy, asthma, and immunology practice. While they all may have allergies, they may not be allergic to the same allergens. It varies, according to Dr. Trott-Gregorio. But Dr. Trott-Gregorio says she loves seeing patients like the Jackson family who come in together for their allergy shots.
“Getting to know the families is one of my favorite things about my job as an Allergist,” said Trott-Gregorio. “I feel like I know my patients better, including each individual’s health and wellness, when I know the whole family.” As for the Jackson family, they have dozens of allergy-shot visits left ahead of them, and therefore, time together. Most allergy patients who get injections to stimulate their immune system in an effort to desensitize it get a shot on a monthly basis for four to five years. After roughly that length of time it is possible to no longer need them and still retain that desensitization.
The treatment schedule would put Kate at about 16 years old. Knowing just how much (or not) teens like to hang out with their parents, Ashley is soaking the time she has now in – shot by allergy shot.