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Allergy treatment in Germany runs from pinpointing the exact allergen to medicines and, where suitable, immunotherapy, because allergies rarely come alone, change over time, and tablets only ease the symptoms. A seasonal runny nose turns year-round, foods or pets join the pollen, and the same tablets return each spring.
So German allergology first asks what exactly the body reacts to, and only then whether the cause itself can be influenced. Allergy affects the skin, nose, eyes and airways, so allergists work with dermatologists, pulmonologists and ENT doctors on one plan for the whole picture.
First, Find the Allergen
Skin and blood tests find the allergen and open almost every assessment. In a prick test, drops of allergen solutions are placed on the forearm and the skin is lightly pricked; a red weal after about a quarter of an hour shows sensitivity. The blood test looks for specific IgE, antibodies against a particular substance such as birch pollen, dust mites or peanuts. In a Robert Koch Institute survey, almost one-third of adults in Germany (30.9%) reported an allergy in the past twelve months.
Provocation tests are done only under medical supervision, because they trigger a real reaction that can be stronger than expected. They help when test results do not match daily experience: the suspected allergen is applied to the nose or eye, or swallowed in small, rising doses, with emergency equipment ready and observation afterwards.
Component (molecular) diagnosis shows the reaction to individual proteins rather than to “birch pollen” or “peanut” as a whole. It explains cross-reactions: people allergic to birch pollen may get an itchy mouth from apples because the proteins look alike. It also indicates the risk of a severe reaction and whether immunotherapy is suitable. Only a blood sample is needed; there is no contact with the allergen.
Allergy Medicines in Germany
Allergy medicines in Germany come after the first and most underrated step: avoiding the allergen wherever possible, from reading food labels to checking the pollen calendar. Patients also learn in advance what to do if a reaction starts.
Then come antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, asthma inhalers, and creams or ointments for the skin. Many antihistamines and some steroid nasal sprays are sold in German pharmacies without a prescription, while higher-dose steroid sprays and combination sprays need one. The doctor chooses the medicine and dose; as a familiar medicine from home may have another name in Germany, patients bring a list of everything they take, with doses.
For severe allergy and asthma that standard treatment does not control, biologic therapy is used: antibody medicines that target the mechanism of allergic inflammation, prescribed under strict criteria. For severe asthma and other chronic forms, rehabilitation is also available, including at specialist centres in the Alpine foothills and on the North Sea coast.
Immunotherapy: Treating the Cause, Not the Symptoms
Allergen immunotherapy is the only treatment that acts on the cause of an allergy rather than its symptoms, as the German clinical guideline on allergen immunotherapy also states. The allergen is given in gradually increasing doses, by injection or as drops and tablets under the tongue, so the immune system learns to react more calmly. A course lasts several years and does not suit every allergy.
The doctor decides after testing whether immunotherapy suits a patient, weighing the main allergen, the severity of the symptoms and any reasons against it, such as uncontrolled asthma. How a course works is explained on the page about allergen immunotherapy in Germany.
When Allergy Is Dangerous: Anaphylaxis and Children
Allergy becomes dangerous when it turns into anaphylaxis, a sudden whole-body reaction that can threaten life. Foods, medicines and bee or wasp venom are the typical triggers. The face and throat swell, blood pressure falls and breathing becomes hard, so immediate help is needed.
In Germany, such patients get more than a prescription. They learn to recognise the first signs and receive a written action plan and an emergency kit built around adrenaline they can use themselves.
In children, allergy often starts with eczema in infancy, which may later turn into hay fever or asthma, and early testing helps to catch this shift. There is more on the pages about treatment for children in Germany and asthma treatment, and in the article “Atopic dermatitis: new medicines”.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to stop allergy tablets before testing?
Yes, antihistamine tablets are usually stopped a few days before skin tests, because they can make the result falsely negative. The clinic tells you in advance how long to pause them and whether other medicines need pausing. Do not stop asthma inhalers or other essential medicines on your own. Antihistamines do not affect the blood test for specific IgE.
Can allergy testing be done outside the pollen season?
Yes, and it is often easier: sensitivity to pollen shows up in skin and blood tests all year round, and outside the season you need not endure symptoms while off the tablets paused before skin tests. The skin at the test site should be free of an eczema flare, and after a recent severe reaction the doctor decides when to test.
How much does allergy treatment in Germany cost?
There is no single price: the total depends on the tests needed, on whether a provocation test is required and on the treatment that follows. The hospital states the exact cost in its estimate after reviewing your documents, and you pay the hospital directly. Prescription medicines are bought separately at a pharmacy, and immunotherapy is priced separately because it runs for years.
How AlenMed Arranges Allergy Treatment in Germany
AlenMed handles the route from the first documents to the allergist’s appointment. You will need previous allergy test results, a list of medicines with doses, a description of your reactions and medical reports. These are translated into German and sent to the allergy unit of a partner hospital, usually part of dermatology, pulmonology or ENT. If the allergy mainly affects the skin, the page on the treatment of skin diseases is also worth reading.
The assessment is usually outpatient and takes several days; the hospital confirms the timeline in its reply and issues a cost estimate (Kostenvoranschlag), paid directly to the hospital. An interpreter joins you at appointments. The company’s office is in Munich, with partner hospitals across Germany, and the whole process is described on the page on arranging treatment in Germany.
This material is for reference only and is not an offer. The treatment plan is decided by a doctor at an in-person consultation.
