| Downloads Biocard Celiac Test Information
- Find out in detail how the
Celiac Test works
- Adobe Acrobat File 276Kb Download Now
The
Dictionary
A-C, D-F,
G-K, L-N,O-R,S-V,W-Z
Acaricides
Acaricides are chemicals
used to destroy house dust mites and their
allergens in carpets, soft furnishings and
bedding.
Allergens
Allergens are substances
such as those found in house dust mites, pollens
and foods that can trigger allergic reactions
Allergic march
The allergic march is the
tendency for babies and young children with
eczema to develop asthma and then other allergy
related diseases such as rhinitis as they grow
older.
Allergy avoidance
Allergy avoidance is the
prevention of allergic disease by reducing
contact with the known allergen triggers
Allergen extract
Allergen extracts are
manufactured by pharmaceutical companies under
controlled conditions for use in desensitisation
vaccines or for allergy tests such as the skin
prick tes and blood tests.
Allergies
There are different types
of allergic reactions but the most common are
those involving the allergy antibody known as
immunoglobulin E (IgE) and is related to diseases
such as food allergy, hayfever, eczema and asthma.
Anaphylaxis
This is the severest form
of an allergic reaction where the cardiovascular
system is affected. People at highest risk of
anaphylactic reactions include those with an
allergy to foods such as peanuts and shellfish or
insect stings from bees and wasps.
Antibodies
Antibodies are proteins
found in your blood and are produced by your
immune system. There are five types of antibodies
(also known as immunoglobulins) ie. IgG, IgM, IgA,
IgD and IgE. IgG antibodies are produced in the
largest quantities (about a million times more
than IgE) and is normally our first line of
defence against viral infections.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are a
group of allergy drugs - most of which are now
available without prescription from pharmacies
and supermarkets. They can be effective in
controlling the allergic reaction by preventing
the binding of histamine (which is produced by
mast cells during an allergic reaction) to
histamine receptors thereby suppressing some of
the inflammation associated with allergic
reactions.
Asthma
When a person with asthma
comes into contact with an asthma trigger such as
an allergen to which they are sensitive to, the
muscles around the walls of the small tubes that
carry air in and out of the lungs tighten. The
lining of the airways then becomes inflamed and
starts to swell producing a sticky mucus or
phlegm. All these reactions cause the airways to
become narrower and irritated – leading to
the symptoms of asthma which can include coughing,
wheezing, getting short of breath and/or a tight
feeling in the chest.
Atopic
People with a genetic
predisposition to developing allergies and
allergic diseases with a sensitivity to common
inhalant allergens such as dust mites, cats and
pollen or with a high total IgE level in their
blood of more than 100kU/L.
Birch pollen
Birch is a common source
of tree pollen allergens in Northern Europe and
Scandinavia
Bronchial provocation
test
An allergy test mostly
used for research and always under close
medical supervision in hospitals whereby the
patient breathes in the suspect allergen and the
reaction of the lungs are measured.
Basophils
A cell similar to mast
cells involved in allergic reactions
Cat allergy
See Pet allergy
Coeliac disease
Approximately 1% of
people suffer from wheat intolerance. Gluten
found in wheat, rye, barley and oats cause the
inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal
tract known as coeliac disease. This is not a
true allergy but a food intolerance, in that the
disease does not involve IgE antibodies. The
gluten damages the surface of the small intestine
which reduces its ability to absorb nutrients
from food causing wasting and malnutrition.
Coeliac disease can occur at any age and most
coeliacs are diagnosed between the ages of 30 and
45 years old.
Condoms
Condoms and other
products made from latex such as surgical gloves
are a significant problem for many people with a
latex allergy. Latex also cross-reacts with fruit
such as bananas.
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a
different type of allergy that usually involves
allergy cells rather than allergy antibodies. A
frequent problem is “jeans button”
allergy where a reaction occurs on the skin where
the jeans button is in contact. Nickel found in
fashion jewellery and buttons is a common trigger.
Cross-reactivity
Cross-reactivity is
sometimes found between foods and pollens. For
example, there is cross-reactivity between some
tree pollens and apples –either of which
could potentially trigger symptoms in a
sensitized person.
|
