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How Kate Middleton is treating horse allergy by immunotherapy - and what it means

From lavish polo matches to prestigious equestrian events, it’s no secret that the royals love their horses.

And while Kate Middleton, as a senior member of the family, may spend a large amount of time surrounded by the animals, the duchess isn’t entirely keen with the creatures.

Speaking to People magazine, Clarrisa Ru, wife of Santa Barbara Polo Club president Wesley Ru, explained that 40 year old Kate was allergic to the animals, though she was working to overcome her allergy through exposure - a treatment called immunotherapy.

She said: “I got a chance to have a conversation with Kate.

“I asked if she was into polo before she met William. She said no. But she’s been riding horses for a while and she hopes to play polo one day.

Getty Kate Middleton horse

“She said ‘I’m actually allergic to them, but the more time one spends with them the less allergic you become.’”

So as the mother-of-three continues to treat her allergy, here’s everything you need to know about immunotherapy…

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy, or desensitisation as it’s also known, is a way of weakening the body’s response to an allergen.

Desensitisation works through exposure to the allergen, so that the immune system gets used to the cause and can therefore change its response.

Getty Kate Middleton horse

The treatment is commonly used for people who are allergic to animals such as horses, cats and dogs.

How does immunotherapy work?

Aside from spending increasing amounts of time exposed to the allergen, as Kate is doing, medical treatment involves being given small doses of the allergen either as an injection or as drops or tablets under the tongue.

Typically treatment is administered over the course of several years.

As there’s a small risk of severe reaction, the NHS states that the injection can only be performed at a specialist clinic under the supervision of a doctor.

 Getty Kate Middleton horse

How effective is immunotherapy?

Though desensitisation doesn’t cure an allergy, it can reduce how allergic a person is to something.

Scientific studies have proved that immunotherapy successfully reduces the symptoms of allergies including hayfever, though it is also used for other specific allergens - such as horses - too.

Given that the treatment alters how you respond to an allergen, the immunotherapy can last for up to three years after it has been received.

However, as it targets a single allergen, the results of exposure therapy will only work on the particular allergy.

Getty Kate Middleton horse

For instance, if you are desensitised to horses, this won’t make a difference to an allergy to pollen.

What happens before treatment?

Before getting immunotherapy, individuals must undergo a series of allergy tests including a skin prick test to help establish what the allergen is.

A physical examination will also be done to help gauge a person’s general fitness.

Reference: OK: Lucy Robinson