allergy (redirected from allergology)

allergy /al·ler·gy/ (al´er-je) a hypersensitive state acquired through exposure to a particular allergen, reexposure bringing to light an altered capacity to react. See hypersensitivity. aller´gic

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atopic allergy  atopy.

bacterial allergy  specific hypersensitivity to a particular bacterial antigen.

bronchial allergy  atopic asthma; see asthma.

cold allergy  a condition manifested by local and systemic reactions, mediated by histamine, which is released from mast cells and basophils as a result of exposure to cold.

contact allergy  see under dermatitis .

delayed allergy  see under hypersensitivity.

drug allergy  an allergic reaction occurring as the result of unusual sensitivity to a drug.

food allergy , gastrointestinal allergy allergy produced by ingested antigens in food, usually manifested by a skin reaction.

hereditary allergy  atopy.

immediate allergy  see under hypersensitivity.

latent allergy  that not manifested by symptoms but which may be detected by tests.

physical allergy  a condition in which the patient is sensitive to the effects of physical agents, such as heat, cold, light, etc.

pollen allergy  hay fever.

polyvalent allergy  see pathergy (2).

spontaneous allergy  atopy.

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al·ler·gy (lr-j)

n.

An abnormally high acquired sensitivity to certain substances, such as drugs, pollens, or microorganisms, that may include such symptoms as sneezing, itching, and skin rashes.

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Allergy

Altered body reaction, usually hypersensitivity, as a response to exposure to a specific substance.

Mentioned in: Serum Sickness

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allergy

[al′ərjē]

Etymology: Gk, allos, other, ergein, to work

a hypersensitive reaction to common, often intrinsically harmless, substances most of which are environmental. More than 50 million Americans have allergic reactions to airborne or inhaled allergens, such as cigarette smoke, house dust, and pollens. Symptoms of mild allergies, such as those associated with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and urticaria, can be suppressed by antihistamines, with glucocorticoids administered as supplements to primary therapy. Severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis and angioedema of the glottis, can cause systemic shock and death and commonly require immediate therapy with subcutaneous epINEPHrine or IV steroids, such as dexamethasone. See also allergic reaction, allergy testing. allergic, adj.

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allergy (al´urjē),

n a hypersensitive reaction to an allergen; an antigen-antibody reaction is manifested in several forms–anaphylaxis, asthma, hay fever, urticaria, angioedema, dermatitis, and stomatitis.

Manifestations of allergies.

allergy, cross-reactive,

n a condition in which a patient allergic to one medication will experience an allergic reaction to all other medications and their derivatives (i.e., cross-sensitivity between penicillin derivatives, cephalosporins and carbapenems). See also resistance, cross.

allergy, “spontaneous” clinical,

n See atopy.

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allergy

an altered reactivity following second or subsequent exposure to antigen (allergen). See also hypersensitivity, allergic.

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atopic allergy

hereditary predisposition to develop certain allergies. See atopy.

bacterial allergy

a specific hypersensitivity to a particular bacterial antigen, e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis; it is dependent on previous infection with the specific organism.

bronchial allergy

asthma.

cold allergy

a condition manifested by local and systemic reactions, mediated by histamine, which is released from mast cells and basophils as a result of exposure to cold.

delayed allergy

see delayed hypersensitivity.

drug allergy

see drug allergy.

drying-off allergy

see milk allergy (below).

food allergy

called also gastrointestinal allergy; see food hypersensitivity.

gastrointestinal allergy

see food allergy (above).

hereditary allergy

an allergy with a hereditary predisposition. The tendency to develop some forms of allergy is inherited, but the specific clinical form is not. IgE, formerly called reagin or reaginic antibody, may be involved. See also atopy.

induced allergy

allergy resulting from the injection of an antigen, contact with an antigen, or infection with a microorganism, as contrasted with hereditary allergy.

inhaled allergy

see atopy.

milk allergy

a hypersensitivity to the milk protein, α-casein. Signs, varying from urticaria to anaphylaxis, have occurred in Jersey cows when milk escapes from the udder into the bloodstream during the drying off period.

physical allergy

a condition in which physical agents, such as heat, cold or light, trigger an allergic response.

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allergy 

A state of hypersensitivity induced by re-exposure to a particular antigen (called allergen), usually environmental, such as pollens, foods, microorganisms and drugs. See allergic conjunctivitis; hypersensitivity.

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allergy

Immunology 1. A state of hypersensitivity induced by exposure to a particular antigen/allergen, resulting in adverse immune reactions on subsequent re-exposure to the allergen. See Anaphylactic shock, Cross allergy, Food allergy, Hypersensitivity reaction, Latex allergy, Peanut allergy, Pseudoallergy2. The medical specialty dedicated to diagnosing and managing allergic disorders

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Patient discussion about allergology.

Q. what is the most common allergy? is it dust allergy?

A. thanks, I've heard of a new allergy treatment and trying to learn some more about the different kinds...

Q. What is Gluten and what is gluten allergy? My nephew is coming to stay with me for a few days and his mother told me that since he is allergic to gluten that I shouldn't give him to eat any. What is gluten?

A. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat (and similar proteins of the tribe Triticeae which includes other cultivars such as barley and rye). When someone is allergic to gluten the only effective treatment is a lifelong gluten-free diet.
Here is a link to a website with ideas for cooking without gluten:
http://www.celiac.com/categories/Gluten%252dFree-Cooking/

Q. What happens when you get an allergy test? My doctor told me that I should have an allergy test done. I have had a friend have an allergy test done and she had a bunch of bumps on her arm. My doctor said it was just a simple blood test. Has the test changed? What should I expect? Is it painful?

A. Today, you can check allergy also with a blood test. What you check is the antibodies that your body manufactures. They extract antibodies from the blood and react it to all sort of allergens and see what happens. Here is a more elaborated explanation about it :
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/allergy/sample.html