Most allergy treatments used today, such as anti-histamines, while very useful only temporarily treat the symptoms of allergy without curing the underlying cause which is a specific type of sensitization of the immune system to allergens. This sensitization is most characterized by the production of IgE antibodies to allergen components. Allergy symptoms can arise by interaction of the IgE antibodies during subsequent exposure to particular allergens.

Treatments that can alter specific aspects the immune system itself and can eliminate IgE or block the IgE/allergen reaction have the potential to cure the allergy for long periods of time Allergen specific immunotherapy/desensitization, commonly known as allergy shots has been proven in studies to cure certain typesof allergy. These treatments consist of extracts of the allergy causing substances injected into the patient in small doses.

The treatments suffer from several disadvantages that seriously decrease their widespread use among allergy sufferers. The treatments can take up to several years of frequent injections followed by maintenance shots. This has lead to a high patient drop out rate. The treatments also contain the structures that interact with allergic IgE and the potential of serious reactions is always present.

The most recent clinical study using improved fungal extracts from Alternaria alternata showed some improvements in asthma and rhinitis over an intensive one year treatment (Tabar et al. Pediatr. Allergy Immunol. 2008 19:67-75). So while the general strategy of the extract type of immunotherapy has been shown to have some benefits for fungal allergy sufferers, there is still a lack of  a combined effective, quick and safe curative for allergies caused by fungi.