glossary

Below you will find a list of terms you may come across while reading about allergy, rhinitis, or hay fever.

Airways: Upper: Nose, nasal cavity, throat, voice box etc. Lower: Windpipe, lungs, bronchi etc.

Allergen: A substance capable of inducing allergy or hypersensitivity. Also the purified protein(s) of some food, bacterium, or pollen used in the treatment of or testing for hypersensitivity to certain substances.

Allergen extract: Fluid-containing allergens extracted from natural sources (e.g., trees, grass, cat hair and dander) to a defined standard, quality and quantity.

Allergy vaccination: Also described as specific immunotherapy (SIT). An allergy vaccination is the only therapy that treats the underlying cause of your allergy.

Antihistamine: Drug used as symptomatic treatment for allergic disorders. Is available as tablets, drops or nasal sprays.

Asthma: Asthma is a disease of the airways in the lungs. The symptoms of asthma are caused by inflammation, which makes the airways red, swollen, narrow and extra-sensitive (hypersensitive) to irritants. Often rhinitis and asthma co-exist in the patient.

Auto-immune reaction: When the body mistakes bits of itself for foreign matter and reacts against it.

Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the delicate membrane lining the eyelids and covering the eyeballs, causing itching and watering.

Hypersensitivity: A state of altered reactivity in which the body reacts with an exaggerated immune response to a foreign agent.

Hyposensitive: Being less sensitive to a specific allergen.

Immunoglobulin: A protein of animal origin with known antibody activity synthesised by lymphocytes and plasma cells and found in serum and other body fluids and tissues.

Immunotherapy: Is the only allergy treatment that targets the allergic condition and builds up an immunological tolerance to specific allergens.

Inflammation: A protective tissue response to injury or destruction of tissues, which serves to destroy, dilute, or wall both the injurious agent and the injured tissues. Signs of acute inflammation are pain, heat, redness, swelling and the loss of function.

IgE: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the antibody class produced in excess in allergic patients. IgE can be measured in a blood sample to determine if a person is allergic to a specific allergen.

Intermittent: At regular intervals; periodically.

Mucous membrane: The membrane lining various canals and cavities of the body.

Mouth oedema: Excessive accumulation of fluid in the body tissue - in the mouth.

Oral pruritus: An itching sensation in the mouth.

Persistent Allergic Rhinitis: rhinitis caused by an allergen present throughout the year eg house dust mite.

Rhinitis: Inflammation of the nose and upper airways caused by infection or an allergic reaction. Symptoms include nasal obstruction, runny nose and sneezing.

Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: rhinitis symptoms caused by a seasonal allergen eg grass pollen.

Sensitisation: The initial exposure of an individual to a specific allergen, resulting in an immune response, subsequent exposure then inducing a much stronger immune response.

Skin prick test: Method of diagnosing allergies. The test can turn out negative or positive. The test is carried out by pricking gently through a drop of allergen extract placed on the surface of the arm. The test shows that a level of antibodies are/or are not present which may be causing allergic symptoms. If the test is positive it will result in the appearance of a small, itchy swelling and a reddening of the skin.

Specific immunotherapy (SIT): Treatment including immune tolerance, reducing the need for medications, preventing new sensitisations, and providing the prospect of a long-term remission. SIT is often described as an ‘allergy vaccination'.

Steroids or Corticosteroids: Helps to reduce inflammation in all types of allergy including rhinitis and asthma. Are available as nasal sprays, eye drops, creams and tablets.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT): Type of immunotherapy that is administered via an injection under the surface of the skin, requiring administration in a clinical setting.

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT): Type of immunotherapy that is administered as drops or tablet form under the tongue.

Symptomatic treatments: Treatments that improve the symptoms of allergy.

Tolerance: The ability to endure without effect and injury.