Dictionary

patch test: A test determining allergic sensitivity by applying patches of allergen-soaked pads to the skin in order to determine irritation at the point of contact.

penicillin allergy: An allergic reaction that occurs when your immune system overreacts to the widely used penicillin antibiotic.

pollen: The fertilizing male element in a flowering plant. It often appears as a fine dust and can cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.

pollen count: The number of pollen grains in a measure of air over a 24-hour period in a time and place. The higher the count the worse is for people with allergies.

ragweed: A weedy,herbaceous plant producing a highly allergenic pollen often responsible for hay fever and asthma.

scratch test: A test for allergic sensitivity made by rubbing an extract of an allergen into breaks or scratches in the skin.

symptom: A sign or indication of a disease or physical disturbance observed by a patient.