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Allergy – an uncontrolled response to foreign proteins in the body. Often, these foreign substances are usually harmless, but nonetheless they trigger an allergic reaction.

Anaphylaxis Shock – a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Although rare, these alarming reactions can occur as a result of a response to an injected drug (i.e. penicillin), specific kind of food, or after an insect sting.

Antihistamine drugs – used as histamine blockers to reduce symptoms like itching, sneezing and a runny nose

Asthma – is a chronic lung disease that develops when the lining of the airways become inflamed and swollen restricting the air flow to and from the lungs.

Contact dermatitis – the inflammation of the skin caused by direct contact with allergens like nickel, latex, certain cosmetics, detergents, a specific animal, chemical or a vegetable.

Eczema – the inflammation of the skin causing itching and irritation.

Epinephrine – a natural hormone, also referred to as adrenaline, that works to increase the heart beat and help improve breathing by dilating the airways. It is the most-often used medication to treat anaphylaxis shock.

Epi Pen – a self-administering epinephrine injection kit used to treat severe allergic reactions.

Histamine – a chemical in the body that is released during an allergic reaction that often causes symptoms like restricted breathing, itching, sneezing and a runny nose.

Immunotherapy – allergy shots used as a preventative form of treatment that will allow the immune system to become less susceptible to a particular substance or allergen (i.e. pollen, insect stings, fungi, etc.).

Rhinitis – inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose (hay fever).