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Adjuvant:
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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.
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| Adrenal gland: |
a paired set
of organs located above the kidneys that produce epinephrine and other
hormones. |
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| Adrenaline:
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British name
for epinephrine. |
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| Adrenergic: |
activated or
transmitted by epinephrine. |
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| Aerochamber: |
a device used
to facilitate the administration of inhalers. |
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| Airway: |
the passage
by which air enters and leaves the lungs. Also a tube used to maintain
unobstructed breathing. |
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| Albumin: |
a protein found
in most animal and many plant tissues. |
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| Allergen: |
a substance
capable of inducing allergy or hypersensitivity. It is also the purified
protein(s) used to test hypersensitivity. |
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| Allergy: |
a hypersensitive
state acquired through exposure to a particular allergen, reexposure
bringing to light an altered capacity to react. |
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| Ampoule: |
a small sealed
glass vial containing medication for parenteral (non-oral) administration
(e.g. epinephrine). |
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| 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).
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| Anaphylactin
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the antibody
in anaphylaxis; it is formed after the first injection of foreign
protein (antigen) and interacts with it on the second injection. |
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| 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). |
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| Anaphylaxis: |
exaggerated
reaction of an organism to a foreign protein or other substance to
which it has previously become sensitized. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Antigen: |
any substance
capable of inducing antibody formation and of reacting specifically
with the antibodies produced. |
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| Antihistamine:
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a drug that
counteracts the effects of histamine, a chemical that is released
during allergic reactions. |
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| Arrhythmia: |
variation
from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat. |
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| Arterial: |
from an artery,
a blood vessel carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Auto-injector:
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a device used
to administer/self-administer a predetermined/set dose of intramuscular
or subcutaneous medication (e.g. Epipen®).
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| B
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| Basophil: |
a white blood
cell (leukocyte) which degranulates during anaphylaxis to release
histamine and other mediators of hypersensitivity. |
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| Beta-blockers: |
drugs that
block one of the receptors for epinephrine and, hence, its effect.
They are used to treat hypertension, angina, tremor and migraine.
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| B.I.D: |
twice daily.
(Bis in Die) |
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| Bias: |
systematic error introduced into sampling
or testing by selecting or encouraging one outcome or answer over
others. Researchers try to avoid bias through randomized controlled
double blind trials.
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| Bioengineering:
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manipulation
of genetic material to produce different strains (e.g. crops/food).
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| Biphasic: |
characterized
by two distinct episodes. |
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| Botanical Groups: |
foods that
are members of the same family. Sometimes there can be cross sensitivity
within a group (e.g. peanuts and other legumes). |
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| Bronchi: (pl.) |
the larger
passages conveying air to and within the lungs. |
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| Bronchioles: |
the finer
subdivisions of the air passages within the lungs. |
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| Bronchodilation:
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a dilated (open)
state of a bronchus. |
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| Bronchodilator: |
an agent that
causes dilatation (opening) of the bronchi. |
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| Bronchospasm: |
spasmodic
contraction of the smooth muscle coating of the bronchi which leads
to narrowing, as occurs in asthma. |
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| C |
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| CFIA: |
Canadian Food
Inspection Agency. |
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| Capillary: |
a tiny blood
vessel that connects the venous and arterial blood vessels. This is
the primary site of seepage during anaphylaxis. |
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| Cardiovascular: |
pertaining
to the heart and blood vessels. |
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| Casein: |
the principle
protein of milk. |
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| Celiac disease: |
a condition
characterized by hypersensitivity to gluten, a component of wheat. |
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| Cell Mediated
Immunity: |
acquired immunity
in which the role of small lymphocytes of thymic origin predominate.
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| Challenge: |
when antigen
is given intentionally to previously sensitized individuals in order
to evoke and assess the allergic response. |
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| Circulatory:
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pertaining
to the circulation of blood. |
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| Clinical: |
pertaining
to or founded on actual observation and treatment of patients, rather
than theory or basic science. |
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| Complement: |
a complex
series of enzymatic proteins found in normal serum that combine with
antigen-antibody complex and produce injury as part of anaphylactoid
reactions. |
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| Complex: |
the combination
of antigen and antibody. |
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| Conjunctivitis: |
inflammation
of the conjunctiva (the delicate membrane that lines the eyelids). |
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| Contact dermatitis: |
an acute allergic
inflammation of the skin caused by contact with various substances
of a chemical, animal or vegetable nature to which hypersensitivity
has been acquired. May also refer to a non-allergic reaction to a
primary irritant. |
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| Contrast medium: |
a dye used
to enhance radiological images; often injected intravascularly. |
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| Corticosteroid: |
any of the
steroids produced by the adrenal cortex or their synthetic equivalents. |
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| Cortisone: |
a hormone
produced by the adrenal gland, which may also be administered to help
control inflammation. |
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| Cross contamination: |
the accidental
deposition of a food ingredient in a product that does not normally
contain it; this can happen through shared equipment or workers hands,
etc. |
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| Cross reactivity: |
allergic sensitivity
to triggers that share similar or related structures; e.g. peanuts
and other legumes. |
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| Cyanosis: |
a bluish discoloration,
usually referring to the skin and mucous membranes, due to an excessive
amount of reduced hemoglobin in the blood (usually due to low oxygen
levels which would follow difficulties with breathing or circulation). |
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| D |
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| Delayed Reaction: |
refers to
an anaphylactic reaction that follows contact with an allergen after
a significant symptom-free period. |
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| Dermatitis: |
inflammation
of the skin. |
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| Derma: |
the skin. |
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| Desensitization: |
the process
by which an individual is made less reactive (sensitive) to a specific
antigen (trigger); e.g. insect sting desensitization. |
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| Diagnosis: |
the art of
distinguishing one disease from another. |
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| Dosage: |
the determination
and regulation of the size, frequency and number of doses (quantity
to be given at one time). |
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| Double blind: |
an experimental
method by which both the subject and the experimenter are unaware
of the nature of a given treatment; this design helps to avoid bias
in experimental studies. |
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| Dyspnea: |
difficult
or laboured breathing. |
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| Eczema: |
a superficial,
allergic, inflammatory process involving the skin; characterized acutely
by redness, itching, oozing, crusting, and chronically by scaling,
thickening, and discolouration. |
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| Edema: |
demonstrable
accumulation of excessive fluid in body tissues; often refers to fluid
in the skin or lungs (pulmonary edema). |
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| Empirical: |
based on experience,
rather than scientific enquiry. |
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| Enzyme: |
a protein
capable of accelerating or producing chemical change in a specific
substrate. |
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| Eosinophil: |
a white blood
cell that is involved in some allergic processes (asthma, allergic
rhinitis and hay fever). |
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| Epidemiology: |
the study
of the relationships of factors that determine the frequency and distribution
of disease. |
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| Epidermis: |
the most superficial
layer of skin. |
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| Epinephrine: |
a hormone
secreted by the adrenal gland that characterizes the "fight or flight"
response to acute stress; it increases blood pressure, accelerates
heart rate, opens the airways; it can also be administered to help
control a severe allergic reaction. |
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| Epipen®: |
an auto-injector
that administers a fixed amount of epinephrine. |
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| Erythema: |
redness of
the skin. |
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| Etiology: |
the study
or theory of the factors that cause disease and their interaction
with the host (patient). |
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| Extract: |
a concentrated
preparation of the protein of any substance to which a person may
be sensitive (allergenic extract); used for diagnosis or desensitization
therapy. |
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| F
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| Flare: |
the red outermost
zone of a hive-like reaction; a manifestation of immediate hypersensitivity
(allergy). |
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| Gangrene: |
death of tissue,
usually following loss of blood supply. |
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| Globulin: |
a class of
proteins that are insoluble in water, but soluble in saline. See immunoglobulin. |
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| Gluten: |
the protein
of wheat and other grains which gives to dough its tough elastic character. |
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| Ground Nut: |
peanut. |
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| Hapten: |
a non-protein
substance that can evoke an immune response through combination with
a carrier protein. On its own, however, it is not antigenic. |
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| Histamine: |
a chemical
present in many animal tissues, but particularly in the granules of
mast cells and basophils. It is released during allergic reactions
and dilates capillaries (causing vascular permeability and a drop
in blood pressure) and causes bronchial constriction (closing of the
airways). |
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| Histology: |
the study
of the minute structure, composition and function of tissue. |
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| Hives: |
a vascular
reaction of the skin marked by the transient appearance of smooth,
slightly elevated patches (wheals) which are redder or paler than
the surrounding skin and often severely itchy. Also called urticaria. |
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| Hormone: |
a chemical,
produced in the body by an organ, or cells of an organ, that has a
specific effect on the activity of a target organ; e.g. epinephrine.
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| Humoral Immunity: |
acquired immunity
in which circulating antibodies (immunoglobulins) play a key role.
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| Hydrolysis: |
the chemical
process by which a compound is split into fragments by the addition
of water. |
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| HPP: |
hydrolyzed
plant protein. |
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| Hydrolysed
Plant protein: |
protein of
a plant source that has been fragmented by hydrolysis (usually corn,
soy, wheat or peanut). |
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| Hymenoptera: |
an order of
insects usually having two pairs of well-developed membranous wings;
includes bees, wasps, ants, etc. |
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| Hypersensitivity: |
a state of
altered immunological reactivity in which the body displays an exaggerated
response to a foreign agent. Anaphylaxis is classified as a Type I
immediate hypersensitivity reaction. |
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| Hypotension: |
abnormally
low blood pressure, as seen in shock. |
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