Glossary

Allergy – an uncontrolled response to foreign proteins in the body. Often, these foreign substances are usually harmless, but nonetheless they trigger an allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis Shock - a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Although rare, these alarming reactions can occur as a result of a response to an injected drug (i.e. penicillin), specific kind of food, or after an insect sting.

Antihistamine drugs – used as histamine blockers to reduce symptoms like itching, sneezing and a runny nose

Asthma - is a chronic lung disease that develops when the lining of the airways become inflamed and swollen restricting the air flow to and from the lungs.

Contact dermatitis –the inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with allergens like nickel, latex, certain cosmetics, detergents, a specific animal, chemical or a vegetable

Eczema –the inflammation of the skin causing itching and irritation.

Epinephrine – a natural hormone, also referred to as adrenaline that works to increase the heart beat and force helping to improve breathing by dilating the airways. It is the most often used medication to treat anaphylaxis shock.

Epi Pen – a self-administering epinephrine injection kit used to treat severe allergic reactions

Histamine – a chemical in the body that is released during an allergic reaction that often causes symptoms like restricted breathing, itching, sneezing and a runny nose.

Immunotherapy – allergy shots used as a preventative form of treatment that will allow the immune system to become less susceptible to a particular substance or allergen (i.e. pollen, insect stings, fungi, etc.).

Rhinitis – inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (hay fever).