Clinical Pharmacy in Immunoallergology Medical diseases
Allergies Allergic Rhinitis ('hay fever') Asthma Chronic Sinusitis Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Chronic Hives & Angioedema (swelling) Food Allergies Allergies to Insect Stings Contact Dermatitis Less common conditions including anaphylaxis, drug allergies and immune deficiencies. What Are Allergies? Allergies are a reaction by the body's immune system to harmless substances that it sees as harmful. The allergy causing substances are called allergens. It is as if the immune system is overly-active in response to otherwise innocuous substances. TERMS Allergen—A substance that provokes an allergic response. Anaphylaxis—Increased sensitivity caused by previous exposure to an allergen that can result in blood vessel dilation (swelling) and smooth muscle contraction. Anaphylaxis can result in sharp blood pressure drops and difficulty breathing. Antibody—A specific protein produced by the immune system in response to a specific foreign protein or pa