NEW HOPE
Thousands of Brits plagued by constant sneezing, runny nose and swollen eye-lids to get ‘life-changing’ pill on the NHS
Read through the full list of symptoms to check if you could benefit from the pill
THOUSANDS of Brits plagued by constant sneezing, a streaming nose and red, watery eyes could be given a 'life-changing' pill on the NHS.
The National Institute for Healthcare and Care Excellence (NICE) green-lit the daily tablet in draft guidance, after it was shown to reduce debilitating symptoms caused by dust mite allergies.
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Dust mites are tiny creatures, only about a quarter of a millimetre long, that live off dead skin cells and burrow into bedding, carpets, sofas and clothing.
Even with deep cleaning, it's pretty much impossible to completely eradicate dust mites from your home - adding to the misery of people who are allergic to them.
Common symptoms of a dust mite allergy include sneezing, a runny, stuffy or itchy nose, ticking in the throat or mouth, and red, watery eyes.
In severe cases, it can be debilitating and cause facial swelling, fatigue and affect people's sleep.
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The tiny creatures may also worsen eczema and asthma symptoms.
NICE has now approved a drug called 12 SQ-HDM SLIT - also known as Acarizax and made by ALK-Abello - for people aged 12 to 65 with persistent moderate to severe house dust mite allergic rhinitis.
An allergy is persistent when symptoms occur on four or more days a week for a month and can't be eased by standard treatments.
NICE said around 13,000 people in England could benefit from the pills, which are the first treatment the agency has recommended for the condition.
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The drug works by increasing the body's resistance to house dust mites and could be particularly helpful to people whose symptoms aren't alleviated by steroid nasal sprays and antihistamines.
By receiving a regular fixed amount of the dust mite allergy treatment every day, the body can become less sensitive to the little critters, reducing allergy symptoms over time.
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The pills can be taken for three years to build up the body's resistance.
According to Allergy UK, Acarizax is the first treatment for house dust mite allergies that tackles the cause allergies – rather than just the symptoms – to be made available on the NHS.
"It has the potential of providing a long-term solution for people who haven’t found meaningful relief with existing approaches such as antihistamines and steroids," the charity added.
"House dust mite-driven allergic rhinitis can severely impact someone’s quality of life, affecting their ability to sleep and even attend work or school.
Symptoms of a dust mite allergy
The most common symptoms of a house dust mite allergy include:
- Sneezing
- A runny, stuffy or itchy nose
- An itchy throat or mouth
- Postnasal drip
- A cough
- Red or watery eyes
- Fatigue
- Worsening eczema or asthma symptoms
Often symptoms can affect you all year round, so you may not realise you're allergic to dust mites in your home or office.
Symptoms can become worse after sleeping in a heavily infested bed, after changing bedding, doing housework or when sleeping in an old house, particularly if it's damp.
The mites tend to thrive in humid and damp environments.
How can I lessen my exposure to dust mites?
We're often exposed to dust mite allergens in bed, so taking precautions in the bedroom by using allergy friendly covers on bedding may help.
Washing bedding regularly can sometimes help too, though studied suggest that chemicals called acaricides may need to be used in order to see an effect.
But remember that dust mites can be found in all rooms of the house, on the floor and in soft furnishings, and may also be found in your workplace and cars.
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"The lack of respite from symptoms and the social isolation experienced by many who are affected can also bring a mental health burden."
People will be eligible for the new pill after having their medical history examined by a doctor and testing positive for a dust mite allergy through an allergy skin prick test or specific immunoglobulin E [IgE]) test.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "For people with house dust mite allergic rhinitis that is not controlled by standard treatments, this new cost-effective drug will have a significant positive impact on their quality of life.
"This is a chronic, debilitating condition which can prevent people from going to their workplace or school.
"This medicine has been found to improve symptoms, helping people to live their lives and has potential to be truly life changing."
Dr Helen Evans-Howells, a patient expert and a GP, added: "This drug could be life-changing for those affected by severe symptoms which include significant fatigue, congestion and facial swelling.
"The evidence clearly shows it offers an effective solution for those who have struggled with standard treatments."
Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK, called the decision a "landmark step".
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"Many endure years of misery; of nasal congestion, loss of smell and sneezing, impacting their sleep and daily living with little respite from symptoms.
"This can also affect mental wellbeing. With this treatment there is now hope for people who fit the criteria to be able to access this through the NHS."
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