Allergy Terminology -
Medical terms for allergy
Glossary of medical
terms used in allergies
Definitions of allergy terms
ACE inhibitor – Medication for blood pressure
causing urticaria or chronic cough in some people.
Acute - Short period of disease as opposed to
chronic.
Adjuvant – Substance that enhances the activity of
another substance.
Aero-allergen - Allergen suspended in the air
getting into respiratory system.
Allergen - Substance causing allergy.
Allergenic - Substance that creates allergic
sensitization.
Allergic march – Progression of an allergy into
another form of allergy as the person ages.
Allergic shiners - Darkening around eyes due to an
allergy.
Allergy - Body's reaction to a substance.
Alternative Medicine - Treatment of a disease with
herbal remedies, hypnosis, and in holistic manner.
Anaphylaxis - Serious allergic reaction combined
with swelling and respiratory problems.
Angioedema - Widespread and deep swelling.
Anosmia - Losing sense of smell due to an
allergy or any other sickness.
Antibody - Proteins created by immune system
against bacteria and viruses.
Antihistamine - Drug used to cure allergy.
Anti-inflammatory medication – Steroids in the form
of sprays, inhalers, and ointments to alleviate the effects
of an allergy.
Aspergillus – Fungi causing allergy or infection in
respiratory system.
Asthma - Allergy affecting the airways to make
breathing difficult due to swelling and inflammation.
Atopy - Allergic reaction by the body originating
from genetics.
Autoimmune disease – Sickness that destroys body’s
antibodies due to inflammation.
B
cell - Lymphocyte producing antibodies.
BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin) – Antigen
vaccine against tuberculosis.
Benign - Non-malignant.
Beta-agonist – Medicine to treat bronchial
discomfort.
Bronchiole - Airways connecting to lungs.
Bronchodilator - Medicine to treat asthma having
similar effects of adrenalin.
Bronchospasm – Bronchial contraction in asthma.
Budesonide - Nasal spray to reduce hay fever and
discomfort caused by asthma and eczema.
Casein – Protein that exists in milk and milk
products.
Causal agent – Infection-causing factor (such as
bacteria).
Cell-mediated – Treatment with the help of cells.
Cell-mediated immunity – Using cells to activate
antibodies to fight against foreign organisms.
Chemosis - Swelling that occurs in conjunctiva.
Cilia - Mucous layer in nose.
Clinical ecology - Elimination of allergenic foods
from diet.
Coeliac disease - Allergy-related intestinal
inflammation.
Commensal – Living micro organisms that do not help
or hurt the activities of body.
Complement – Substances that take part in
strengthening body’s defense mechanism.
Conjunctivitis - Inflammation of conjunctiva
(linings of eyeballs).
Contact dermatitis - Eczema that results from
direct contact with a substance.
Corticosteroid - Medicine containing steroid to
alleviate inflammation caused by allergy.
Cross-reactivity – Parallel functioning with
another antigen having similar effects.
CT (Computerized Tomography) – X-ray scanning to
examine soft tissues of the body.
Cytotoxic cells -White blood cells.
Dander – Skin parts of an animal that cause
allergy.
Decongestant - Medicine to reduce swelling in
respiratory system due to allergy.
Dennie line - Crease under eyelid caused by
allergy.
Dermatitis - Eczema
Dermatophagoides pteronyssius - Dust mite.
Dermatoses - Skin disease with no inflammation.
Desensitization - Application of antigens under the
skin to develop body's resistance to antigens.
DPT - Vaccine combination primarily against
diphtheria, coughing, and tetanus.
Dyspnoea – Breathing discomfort.
Ecchymosis - A bruise.
Eczema - Allergic skin disease identified with
dryness, itching, and redness.
Elimination diet – Taking out some food from
patient’s diet to find out the food that causes allergy.
Emollients - Ointments to hydrate the skin in
treating eczema.
Endotoxin - Poison that hurts body tissues.
Epinephrine - Hormone produced by the adrenal gland
increasing blood pressure and heartbeat.
Excoriation – Destruction of skin surface.
Farmer’s Lung – Respiratory allergy disease caused
by fungus in grain.
Feingold diet - Allergy treatment by eliminating
additives in food in a gradual manner.
Food additive – Substances added to enhance the
flavor and appearance of food as well as to prolong
shelf-life. Food aversion - Fearing adverse affects of
E-numbers – Numbers assigned to food additives and
preservatives by the European Union.
food.
Food challenge - Testing body's allergic reaction
by giving small amounts of food.
Food intolerance - Food sensitivity that creates
reaction by immune system.
Food toxicity – Poisonous substance in food.
Gastro esophageal reflux: GER – Reversal of flow of
juices in the stomach toward the esophagus.
Generic – Medicine not carrying any trademark. |
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Histidine - Amino acid containing histamine.
Hives - Urticaria.
Humoral immunity – Production of antibodies to
defend the body.
Hypersensitivity - Excessive reaction of body's
immune system.
Hyperventilation – Breathing at high rate.
Hypo-allergenic - Substance tested not to create
any allergic reaction.
Ichthyosis - Genetic scaling of the skin not caused
by inflammation.
Idiopathic - Disease that occurs with another
disease at the same time.
Idiosyncrasy - Unexpected sensitivity to medicine
or food.
Immediate hypersensitivity - Allergy.
Immune – Body’s defense mechanism by antibodies
against foreign organisms.
Immune complex - Combination of antibodies and
antigens.
Immune response - Immune system's reaction to
antigens.
Immunization - Strengthening of body immune systems
with the help of chemicals and medicine.
Immunoglobulin - Antibody produced within the body
to fight against allergens and bacteria.
Immunosuppression – Malfunctioning of immune system
due to medication or disease.
Immunotherapy - Reducing allergic sensitivity by
giving small amounts of allergens over a period of time.
Impetigo - Skin infection caused by staphylococcus
bacteria.
Incidence rate – Occurrence of a disease per 1,000
people as used in statistics.
Incubation (latent) period - Period of time
between infection and its symptoms.
Inflammation – Swelling frequently associated with
pain due to activation of body’s defense system against an
injury or disease.
Inhalant allergen – Particles in air that cause
allergy when inhaled.
Inhaler - Device facilitating breathing for asthma
patients.
Injectant allergens - Substances that create
allergy when injected into the body as a drug or by insects.
Interleukin - Proteins that control immune system.
Keratosis pilaris - Dry and rough skin due to
allergy.
Latent allergy - Allergy for which no clinical
allergy developed yet.
Leukocytes - White blood cells.
Mast cells - Histamine-releasing cells in case of
allergic reaction.
Mildew – Asthma-causing fungi.
Mold – Type of fungus developed in dark and humid
environment.
Morbidity – Incidence of diseases statistically
stated in terms of per 100,000 or 1,000,000.
Morbilliform - Skin rash that looks similar to
measles.
Mortality rate - Incidence of death per 1,000
people.
Mucous membrane - Lining of respiratory, digestive,
and urinary tracts.
Mycosis - Disease caused by fungus.
Nasal salute – Nose-rubbing due to itchiness caused
by nasal allergy.
Optimal dose – Amount of medicine having the
longest period of relief and minimal side effects.
Oral allergy syndrome - Oral allergic reaction to
fruits, vegetables, and nuts resulting in hay fever.
Pandemic – Disease affecting many regions and
countries.
Patch test - Application of patch to the skin
suffering from eczema to find out the cause of allergic
reaction.
Perennial allergic rhinitis – Long-lasting allergy
with symptoms similar to cold.
Pollen - Male seed of plants, flowers, and trees
causing hay fever, asthma, and allergic reactions.
Pompholyx - Eczema affecting hands and foot.
Postnasal drip – Flowing of fluids from nasal areas
into the throat.
Pruritus - Itching.
Pseudo-allergy - Reaction similar to allergy
without involving body's immune system.
Purpura - Skin rash resulting in bleeding.
Phytophotodermatitis – Allergic reaction in the
form of blisters occurring after exposure to light.
Ragweed – Type of weed that causes allergy.
RAST - Radio Allergo Sorbent Test
Reliever - Drugs used to reduce allergic reaction,
especially in asthma.
Retrospective study – Examination of
characteristics of people that were subject to a disease.
Rhino rhea - Running nose due to allergy.
Samster’s triad – Allergic reaction resulting in
asthma, aspirin sensitivity and nasal polyps.
SCID - Severe Combined Immune Deficiency.
Sensitization – Progression in allergic reaction.
Skin prick test - Testing reaction of skin to
allergens.
Spacer device - Plastic tube to facilitate reach of
spray into the lungs.
Spiro meter – Measurement of air volume inhaled and
exhaled.
Spores – Tiny particles produced by fungi causing
allergic reaction.
Status asthmaticus – Intensified asthma due to low
level of treatment in the early stages.
Sub clinical – Very early phase of disease with
unnoticeable symptoms.
Subcutaneous – Under skin surface.
Target organ – Part of body subject to allergic
reaction.
Terbutaline – Medicine used to treat asthma.
Tinnitus – Ear ringing.
Trichophyton - Parasitic fungi causing infection on
the skin.
Trigger - Substance activating allergic reaction.
Tryptase – Increase in the amount of enzyme due to
allergic reaction.
Turbinate - Nasal lining that swells due to
allergy.
Uticaria - Allergic itching, rash.
Vaccination – Medicine activating production of
antibodies to cure disease.
Vasomotor Rhinitis – Allergy due to smoke or odors.
Venom – Toxic substance produced by insects or
snakes.
Vital Capacity – Highest amount of air exhaled.
Weal - Bump on the skin due to allergy, urticaria.
Wet wrapping - Application of creams and other
substance to cure eczema.
Xeroderma – Genetic skin disease with symptoms of
dryness.
Xerosis – High level of dryness of skin and mucous
membrane. |
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