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Adjuvant:
a substance which, when given with a drug or antigen, enhances its antigenicity (capacity to elicit an immune response) but does not evoke an immune response itself.
Adrenal gland:
a paired set of organs located above the kidneys that produce epinephrine and other hormones.
Adrenaline:
British name for epinephrine.
Adrenergic:
activated or transmitted by epinephrine.
Aerochamber:
a device used to facilitate the administration of inhalers.
Airway:
the passage by which air enters and leaves the lungs. Also a tube used to maintain unobstructed breathing.
Albumin:
a protein found in most animal and many plant tissues.
Allergen:
a substance capable of inducing allergy or hypersensitivity. It is also the purified protein(s) used to test hypersensitivity.
Allergy:
a hypersensitive state acquired through exposure to a particular allergen, reexposure bringing to light an altered capacity to react.
Ampoule:
a small sealed glass vial containing medication for parenteral (non-oral) administration (e.g. epinephrine).
Ana-Kit�:
the Ana-Kit� (Bayer) contains a pre-loaded syringe with two 0.30mg doses of epinephrine, 4 chewable 2 mg tablets of chlorpheniramine (antihistamine), 2 sterilizing alcohol swabs and a tourniquet (for the management of insect stings).
Anaphylactin:
the antibody in anaphylaxis; it is formed after the first injection of foreign protein (antigen) and interacts with it on the second injection.
Anaphylactoid:
a reaction similar to anaphylaxis in clinical presentation and treatment, but different in the chemical reaction that is taking place (e.g. exercise-induced anaphylaxis occurs via non-IgE mechanisms).
Anaphylaxis:
exaggerated reaction of an organism to a foreign protein or other substance to which it has previously become sensitized.
Angioedema:
recurring attacks of transient edema (swelling) suddenly appearing in areas of the skin or mucous membranes and occasionally of the viscera (internal organs); may be asymptomatic or associated with urticaria (hives) and redness.
Antibody:
an immunoglobulin molecule with a specific amino acid sequence by which it interacts only with the antigen that induced its formation or antigen that is very similar to it.
Antigen:
any substance capable of inducing antibody formation and of reacting specifically with the antibodies produced.
Antihistamine:
a drug that counteracts the effects of histamine, a chemical that is released during allergic reactions.
Arrhythmia:
variation from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.
Arterial:
from an artery, a blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart.
Asthma:
a condition marked by recurrent attacks of paroxysmal dyspnea (suddenly recurring episodes of laboured breathing), with wheezing due to spasmodic contraction of the bronchioles (small airways). In sensitized individuals, it is usually a manifestation of allergy.
Atopy:
a clinical hypersensitivity (allergic) state with a hereditary predisposition; i.e., the tendency to develop an allergy is inherited, but the specific clinical form (hay fever, asthma, etc.) is not.
Auto-injector:
a device used to administer/self-administer a predetermined/set dose of intramuscular or subcutaneous medication (e.g. Epipen�).
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