Key Terms
allergen: A substance that causes allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
anaphylaxis: Severe potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Also called anaphylactic shock.
angioedema: Condition in which there is urticaria and edema in areas of skin, mucous membranes or internal organs.
anoxia: Lack of oxygen in tissues (also see hypoxia).
antibody: A protein developed by the body in response to an antigen.
antigen: Any substance that, under the right conditions, can cause the formation of antibodies. Examples are toxins, bacteria, and foreign proteins, such as blood cells.
antigen-antibody: The reaction between the antigen and antibody that forms the basis of the immune response.
apnea: Cessation of breathing.
atherosclerosis: A common form of arteriosclerosis in which plaques containing cholesterol and other fats fill the intima (innermost coat) of blood vessels.
atopy: Hereditary tendency to develop an allergy.
clonic: Alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles.
coma: State of unconsciousness from which a patient cannot be aroused by external stimuli.
confusion: Lack of orientation with respect to time, place and/or self.
consciousness: Orientation with respect to time, place and self, with responsiveness of the mind to impressions made by the senses.
convulsion: Spasms including involuntary muscular contraction and relaxation. (see clonic).
delirium: Mental confusion and excitement, sometimes with hallucinations and/or aimless physical activity.
diabetes mellitus: Disorder of carbohydrate metabolism due to an inability of the body to produce or utilize insulin to regulate the amount of circulating glucose. Insulin is produced in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
dizziness: A spinning sensation or a sensation that one is falling.
dyspnea: Difficulty breathing.
epilepsy: Any recurrent seizure pattern, but most commonly used to describe sudden, brief attacks of altered consciousness and convulsions.
faint: Temporary loss of consciousness.
hyperglycemia: A condition characterized by circulating glucose in the blood in excess of physiologic need.
hyperpnea:
Increased respiratory rate or deeper than normal breathing.
hyperventilation: Abnormally prolonged and deep breathing usually associated with acute anxiety or emotion, which causes alkalosis, and can eventually cause loss of consciousness.
hypoglycemia: A condition characterized by inadequate circulating glucose in the blood to meet physiologic need.
hypoxia: Diminished availability of oxygen to body tissues. Deficiency of oxygen in inspired (breathed in) air.
ictus: A seizure or sudden attack.
IDDM: Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The patient requires exogenous insulin injections.
NIDDM: non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
orthopnea: Difficulty breathing when in any position except sitting or standing upright.
pruritus: Severe itching.
respiration: Inhaling and exhaling air, which causes the taking in of oxygen by breathing in, utilization of oxygen at the tissue level and giving off carbon dioxide by breathing out.
seizure: A sudden attack, a convulsion.
status asthmaticus: A sustained and severe episode of asthma that does not adequately respond to normal treatment.
status epilepticus: Repeated episodes of epileptic seizures without respite and that do not adequately respond to normal treatment.
stertorous breathing: Labored breathing with snoring sounds usually due to partially obstructed upper airway.
syncope: A transient loss of consciousness due to inadequate blood flow to the brain, a simple faint.
tachycardia: Abnormally rapid heart rate.
tachypnea: Abnormally rapid respiratory rate.
tonic: Sustained muscular contraction.
unconsciousness: State of being unaware or without conscious experience.
urticaria: Transient appearance of papules or wheals that cause intense itching, also known as hives.
wheal: Slightly elevated patch that either redder or paler than the normal skin color, or may be white in the center with a pale red periphery and cause itching.
