Allergic
Reaction — Allergy Treatment — Allergy
Medication
The science of allergy treatment has come a
long way. Doctors now understand the allergic
response on a molecular level, producing better
ways to diagnose and treat all kinds of allergies
from hay fever to food reactions. This medical
dictionary covers the terms used in the report, What
to do About Allergies, and includes information
on various allergies, triggers, reactions, symptoms,
treatments, medications, and risks.
allergen: A harmless substance
that triggers the immune system to mount an inappropriate
response known as an allergic reaction.
allergic: Having an overly
sensitive immune response to one or more harmless
substances. (See atopic.)
allergy: The mounting of inappropriate
immune responses to one or more harmless substances.
The result is the onset of an excessive inflammatory
reaction.
anaphylaxis: A severe, potentially
life-threatening systemic allergic reaction.
Also called anaphylactic shock.
antibodies: Molecules produced
by plasma cells, the descendants of B cells.
When foreign molecules enter the body, antibodies
swiftly travel to potential trouble spots where
they use various strategies to stop the spread
of infection.
antigen: A foreign (nonself)
molecule that causes an immune response.
antihistamines: Drugs that
block the action of histamine, thereby dampening
the ferocity of an immediate allergic reaction.
antileukotrienes: Drugs that
block the action of leukotrienes. Used in the
treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Also
known as leukotriene modifiers.
asthma: A chronic inflammatory
disease of the airways that typically starts
in childhood, although some people develop asthma
later in life.
atopic: Having an inherited
predisposition to allergies. The term is often
used interchangeably with “allergic,” although
not all allergies have a genetic component.
atopic dermatitis (eczema): A
chronic inflammatory skin condition that usually
initially appears in young children who have
an inherited predisposition to allergies. Many
children with atopic dermatitis go on to develop
atopic (allergic) rhinitis or atopic (allergic)
asthma.
atopic rhinitis: A seasonal
or year-round allergic condition marked by sneezing,
runny nose, and congestion. The most common type
of allergy, it is caused by an IgE-mediated immune
response.
atopy: The inherited tendency
to develop allergies. The three major atopic
diseases are atopic rhinitis, atopic asthma,
and atopic dermatitis.
B cell: A type of lymphocyte
(white blood cell). B cells, together with T
cells, are the “big guns” of the
immune system response to an invasion by a foreign
molecule.
challenge testing: A method
of testing for food allergy, usually in double-blind
experiments in which neither patient nor doctor
knows which food is taken in a pharmaceutically
prepared pill.
conjunctivitis: Inflammation
of the conjunctiva of the eye. Conjunctivitis
is the most common eye allergy.
contact dermatitis: A reaction
that occurs when the skin comes in direct contact
with an allergen or an irritant.
corticosteroids (steroids): Medications
with anti-inflammatory properties commonly used
to treat a range of allergies.
decongestants: Medications
used to relieve the stuffy-nose symptoms of IgE-mediated
allergies. Decongestants should be used judiciously;
overuse exacerbates the problem.
eczema: See atopic dermatitis.
elimination diets: A way of
diagnosing food allergies in which suspected
foods are eliminated from the diet one at a time
to see if the allergic condition improves. Also
called avoidance diets.
eosinophils: White blood cells
that play an important role in allergic reactions.
EpiPen: A device to administer
epinephrine very quickly to stave off anaphylaxis
in the event of a severe allergic reaction.
food allergies: Conditions
that result from the immune system’s response
to certain proteins found in foods.
hay fever (seasonal rhinitis): Seasonal
allergies to common inhaled allergens.
helper T cells: A subset of
T cells. Th2 cells favor the inappropriate immune
response seen in allergic reactions.
HEPA filter: High-efficiency
particulate air filter, found in vacuums or in
stand-alone devices.
histamine: A substance released
by mast cells that causes symptoms of an immediate
allergic reaction.
hygiene hypothesis: A suggested
explanation for the increase in allergies in
industrialized countries. The hypothesis proposes
that modern-day cleanliness results in less early
exposure to germs and this upsets the balance
of the immune response to allergens.
immunoglobulin E (IgE): The
antibody responsible for the majority of allergic
reactions. Triggered by allergens, IgE on the
surface of mast cells fires up the explosive
release of histamine.
immunotherapy (allergy shots): A
long-term program of desensitization that induces
tolerance to an identified allergen. This treatment
is commonly used for allergic rhinitis, asthma,
allergies to stinging insects, and conjunctivitis.
intolerance: A reaction that
has similar symptoms to an allergic reaction
but does not engage the immune system and so
is not an allergy.
irritants: Substances (tobacco
or wood smoke, perfumes, and so on) that cause
allergy-like symptoms, although the response
is not an allergic reaction.
latex allergy: An allergic
reaction to the proteins found in natural rubber.
leukotrienes: Chemicals responsible
for inflammation of the airways in diseases such
as asthma.
mast cell: A type of large
cell abundant in the mucosa, skin, the lining
of the gut, and the airways. Mast cells play
a key role in allergic reactions by releasing
histamine, leukotrienes, and other inflammatory
mediators.
patch test: A skin test used
to diagnose contact dermatitis.
peak flow meter: A device to
assess lung function, commonly used to diagnose
and monitor asthma.
plasma cells: Descendants of
B cells responsible for producing antibodies.
prick test: A commonly used
skin test to confirm hypersensitivity to a broad
range of allergens that elicit an IgE-mediated
response.
RAST (radioallergosorbent test): A
blood test used for identifying allergens.
spirometer: A device that measures
airway obstruction, used to diagnose asthma and
determine the severity of the condition.
T cell: A type of lymphocyte
(white blood cell). Helper T cells play a prominent
roll in the allergic response.
urticaria (hives): An itchy rash
of usually short duration.
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