Key Summary:
- Two allergy tablets approved for children as young as five.
- They build tolerance over three years, not just ease symptoms.
- Around 2,000 children in England to benefit.
Children as young as five could soon have access to allergy immunotherapy tablets on the NHS, after NICE recommended widening the use of two treatments for house dust mite and birch pollen allergies.
Acarizax is recommended for children aged five to 11, while Itulazax can be offered to people aged five to 17. NICE estimates just over 2,000 children in England could benefit from the change.
New options for younger children
Both treatments are taken once a day for three years. They contain a standardised extract of the allergen responsible for symptoms, with the aim of gradually increasing the body’s tolerance to it.
This sets them apart from medicines such as antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids, which control allergy symptoms. These remain standard treatment for allergic rhinitis, but immunotherapy is intended for children whose symptoms persist despite these medicines.
Because the treatments target a specific allergen, children must have a confirmed sensitisation to it, established through a skin-prick test or a blood test for specific IgE.
Dr Robin Gore, President, British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, has previously said the approach “marks a shift from simply managing symptoms to long-term disease modification”.
The impact of persistent allergies
For some children, the unmet need is high, as allergic rhinitis can be much more disruptive than seasonal sneezing. Symptoms include a blocked or runny nose, itchy eyes and fatigue, while severe disease can interfere with sleep and daily activities.
That burden can be particularly high for children with severe tree pollen allergies. As Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation, NICE, said, severe allergy can “disrupt their work, education, and family life”.
The condition can also appear alongside other allergic diseases. Allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis commonly occur together, while asthma may also be present.
What happens next
As a result of the news, NHS England is expected to provide both treatments within three months of NICE publishing its final guidance.
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