Allergy Glossary
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Allergen (AL-ur-jun): An allergen is a medical word for anything that causes an allergic reaction. Allergens can be many different things, including grass, dust mites, or animal dander — the stuff that flakes off dogs' and cats' skin.
Allergist (AL-ur-jist): An allergist is a special doctor who helps people who are allergic to things like animals, grass, pollen, dust, and even foods. Sometimes they can give you medicine or shots to help you feel better when allergies bother you.
Allergy (AL-ur-jee): An allergy is when someone's immune system overreacts to something that usually isn't harmful. Many things can trigger allergies, like pollen, some animals, foods, or a bee sting. Allergies can make your eyes water and your nose run, make your skin itchy and bumpy, make your throat and ears sore, and make your tummy ache. But if you have an allergy, a special doctor called an allergist can help you feel better again.
Allergy Shots and Immunotherapy (ih-myoo-noh-THER-uh-pee): If you sneeze a lot because you're allergic to something, doctors might give you allergy shots, also called immunotherapy. This can also be helpful for some people whose asthma symptoms are caused by allergies. The shots gradually help your body not to be allergic to something anymore. Usually, though, you need to get shots for months or sometimes even years to get rid of your allergies. But for many kids, it's worth it because they feel so much better!
Allergy-Triggered Asthma: Most kids who have asthma also have some kind of allergy, too. With allergy-triggered asthma, someone's asthma symptoms (like coughing and trouble breathing) occur when the person comes in contact with an allergen. But not all asthma is caused by allergies, and not all allergies cause symptoms of asthma.
Animal Dander (AN-uh-mul DAN-dur): All warm-blooded animals shed tiny flakes from their skin. This is called dander. (It's like dandruff in humans but much harder to see.) When someone is allergic to animals, it could be dander that's causing the problem. Pet dander can be trouble for people who have asthma, because if they're allergic to it, it can make breathing problems worse.
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Dust Mites: Dust mites are teeny, tiny bugs that live in household dust. You have to be pretty small to live in dust — and they are. You actually need a microscope to see them! So if you can't even see them, what's the problem? Well, people can be allergic to dust mites and their droppings. This stuff gets into the air and then can get into someone's lungs. Dust mites don't bother most people, but they can make breathing problems worse for someone with asthma. It can be tough to get rid of dust mites because they get into soft places like pillows, blankets, mattresses, and stuffed animals.
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Eczema (EG-zeh-muh): If your skin has ever been super itchy, red, and dry, you might know about eczema. And no, it doesn't have anything to do with eggs … unless you're allergic to them, because eczema is sometimes caused by allergies.
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Hay Fever: No, hay fever's not when a horse is sick! It's the name of a type of allergy that people have to natural things like pollen from plants and flowers. People with hay fever don't really have a fever — but they do get a runny nose and watery, itchy eyes. So if you go outside and start sneezing, hay fever may be to blame!
Histamine (HISS-tuh-meen): Histamine is a substance that the body releases during an allergic reaction. It can cause allergy symptoms that affect the eyes, nose, throat, skin, digestive system, and lungs. When histamine affects the lungs, a person who has asthma may have breathing problems.
Hives: Hives are pink or red bumps or slightly raised patches of skin. They usually itch but can also burn or sting. They can happen anywhere on the body. Mild hives usually aren't a problem and will go away on their own. Less often, hives can be a sign of a serious allergic reaction that needs medical care right away.
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Pollen (PAH-lin): Pollen is a fine powder produced by certain plants. During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, it is released into the air and picked up by the wind. The wind carries it to other plants so they can make seeds. But while it's traveling in the wind, pollen gets into the air we breathe. Many people are allergic to it, including people who have asthma. When they breathe in pollen, it can trigger their asthma symptoms.
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Rhinitis (ry-NY-tis): Rhinitis is irritation and swelling of the lining of the nose. But you probably just call it a runny nose. You have rhinitis when you have a cold, but allergies to things like pollen from plants and trees also can get your nose running. This is called allergic rhinitis or hay fever. These allergies may make you sneeze or make your eyes water.
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Skin Test: If you might have allergies, a special doctor called an allergist (AL-ur-jist) can help find out what you're allergic to by giving you a skin test. For this test, the doctor will use different liquids, each containing a small amount of stuff that a person can be allergic to, such as pollen or certain foods. The doctor puts a drop of each liquid on your arm or back and then lightly pricks the skin. If you get a red, itchy bump there, you're probably allergic!
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Triggers (TRIH-gurz): In asthma, a trigger is anything that brings on symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing. Triggers can vary from person to person and from season to season. They also can change as a kid grows older. Common triggers include colds, smoke, cold air, exercise, and anything that causes an allergic reaction, such as dust mites or pollen.
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Urticaria (ur-tuh-KAIR-ee-uh): Urticaria is the fancy name for hives, those itchy, red bumps people get on their skin when they're allergic to something, like certain foods or medicines. Allergies are not the only reason someone might get hives. Some infections, hot or cold temperatures, or even stress can make those bumps appear. Your doctor can give you some medicine that can help stop all your scratching.