Medical dictionary

What is analysed?The ALK (anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase) gene is a gene that provides instructions for making a protein called ALK, which plays an important role in various cellular processes.However, alterations or rearrangements in the ALK gene can lead to the production of abnormal ALK proteins, which may contribute to the development of certain cancers, such as non-small cell lu

What is allergic conjunctivitis? Allergic conjunctivitis causes red, watery, itchy or gritty eyes and is a reaction to pollen during hay fever season. Other causes include allergies to house dust mite and cosmetic products. The irritating symptoms of the condition can usually ease with eye drops. Conjunctivitis is the inflammation of the conjunctiva, which is the thin skin that covers th

What is allergic dermatitis?Allergic dermatitis is a skin condition that appears in people with allergies and can often be hereditary. It often appears during the first months of life in the form of redness or crust on the baby's skin, with pruritus (intense itching). It’s important to get a correct diagnosis. What symptoms does allergic dermatitis provoke?Allergic dermatitis c

What are allergic reactions?  Allergic reactions are hypersensitive responses to contact with certain substances known as allergens. Your body's immune system will perceive these harmless substances as a threat and will defend against them. The reaction may be localised to one area of the body or it may spread throughout the body.  What causes allergic reactions?  W

What is allergic rhinitis? Allergic rhinitis is a condition where the nose becomes inflamed by allergens, and is characterised by the presence of the typical symptoms of a cold such as sneezing, an itchy nose, stuffy nose or nasal congestion, mucus, and loss of smell. What are the symptoms? Allergic rhinitis generally causes symptoms which are similar to those of a cold, such as a blo

What is allergic urticaria? Allergic urticaria is a skin disease that shows up as a skin rash (white or red hives) and itchiness across the body. It tends to be more common than cases of non-allergic urticaria, where symptoms tend to disappear within a few hours, as there is an allergen triggering it.  What is the prognosis of allergic urticaria? Urticaria or hives can be a bothe

What is an allergy? An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to exposure to a substance in the environment which is usually harmless for most people. Examples include: Pollen Certain foods, e.g. peanuts Certain drugs Dust mites Contact with certain substances, e.g. latex, nickel Insect stings Allergies can affect several parts of the body. However, the most freque

What is allergy testing?   Allergy tests are tests that are done to find out what known substances produce an allergic reaction in a person. This can be done in the form of a blood test, skin test, or a food elimination diet, which can help to determine what food intolerances an individual has.     Why have allergy testing?   Allergy tests are performed

What is analysed? Allergy tests are used to identify specific allergens that may be triggering allergic reactions.  Common types of allergy tests include: Blood tests, including the total IgE test Skin tests, including the skin prick test, the patch test, and the intradermal test Food challenges, including the elimination diet Specifically, the total IgE test measure