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Diseases » Immune disorders » Glossary

Glossary for Immune disorders

AIDS: A term given to HIV patients who have a low CD4 count (below 200) which means that they have low levels of a type of immune cell called T-cells. AIDS patients tend to develop opportunistic infections and cancers. Opportunistic infections are infections that would not normally affect a person with a healthy immune system. The HIV virus is a virus that attacks the body's immune system.
Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: Rare cancer of the immune system T-cells.
All Disease Categories: All major disease categories
Allergic Disorders: A group of disorders that a caused by an allergic response to allergens
Allergic rhinitis: Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and pharynx.
Allergies: Immune system over-reaction to various substances.
Anaphylaxis: A rare, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
Asthma: Repeated attacks of breathing difficulty.
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: An inherited autoimmune condition characterized by proliferation of lymphocytes and autoimmunity against the body's own blood cells resulting in premature death of certain blood cells.
Autoimmune diseases: A group of disorders in which the primary cause is the an inflammatory reaction caused by the body's own immune system attacking tissues
Autoimmune neuropathies: Nerve diseases from autoimmune damage.
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome: A rare genetic disorder where both parents need to be carriers for it to be passed on. Sufferers have reduced skin pigmentation to the point of albinism in some cases. Characteristic white cell abnormalities increase bleeding problems and increase the risk of infections.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Severe chronic fatigue disorder often following infection.
Common Variable Immunodeficiency: An immunodeficiency disorder involving low blood gamma globulin levels which results in an increased susceptibility to infections. The condition may be inherited or can be caused by certain drugs (levamisole, hydantoin and carbamazepine).
DiGeorge's syndrome: Rare form of primary immune deficiency
Drug Allergies: Allergies to medications or other drugs.
Eczema: Eczema is a chronic skin condition characterized by skin inflammation and irritation. The severity of extent of the condition is highly variable. It may be caused by allergies, irritants or other factors such as stress.
Food allergies: Immune over-reaction to an eaten food.
HTLV: Virus associated with affecting the immune system.
HTLV-1: Virus affecting the immune system and associated with a particular leukemia/lymphoma.
Hay fever: An allergy which causes sneezing, runny nose or blocked nose for part of the year.
Hives: Weals on the skin due to an allergic reaction.
Hodgkin's Disease: A form of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Hydrops fetalis - anaemia - immune disorder - absent thumb: A rare syndrome characterized by an absent thumb, anemia, an immune disorder and hydrops fetalis.
Hyper-IgE Syndrome: A condition characterized by an excess of immunoglobulin E
Hyper-IgM Syndrome: A rare inherited immunodeficiency disorder which causes frequent infections involving the ears, eyes, sinuses, lungs, skin, respiratory tract and other areas of the body.
Immune deficiency conditions: Any of various diseases that suppress the immune system.
Insect sting allergies: When a person has an allergic reaction at the site of an insect sting
Latex allergies: When a person has an allergic reaction to latex
Leukemia: Cancer of the blood cells, usually white blood cells.
Leukocyte Adhesion Defect: A rare inherited disorder characterized by abnormal neutrophil functioning which reduces the body's immunity. The abnormal neutrophils are unable to be transported to sites of infection due to their inability to adhere to certain blood vessel components which would normally lead them to the infection site. Infections may be life-threatening as the body is unable to destroy bacteria effectively.
Lymphadenitis: The inflammation of the one or several lymph nodes
Lymphatic Filariasis: Parasitic worm infection of the lympatic system
Lymphoma: Cancer involving lymph nodes and the immune system.
Multiple Myeloma: A rare malignant cancer that occurs in the bone marrow. More common in skull, spine, rib cage, pelvis and legs.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: A type of lymphoma, a cancer affecting lymph nodes and the immune system.
POEMS: Very rare plasma cell disorder
Peanut allergies: A hypersensitive state that is due to exposure to an allergen contained in peanuts
Penicillin allergy: Taking penicillin (a type of antibiotic) can cause an allergic response in some people. It involves the body's immune system overreacting to the drug. The type and severity of symptoms can vary considerable though skin symptoms are the most common allergic response to drugs. Penicillin allergy is one of the more common types of drug allergies.
Possibly Autoimmune Diseases: Diseases that may be autoimmune or have an autoimmune subtype, but it is unclear or controversial.
Primary Immune Deficiency: Various types of immune deficiencies; usually genetic.
SCID: Major failure of the immune system, usually genetic.
Selective IgA Deficiency: Immune deficiency from lacking immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies.
Skin allergies: A reaction to the exposure of the skin to an allergen
Thymus Cancer: Cancer that occurs in the thymus
X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia: Immune deficiency from lack of antibodies.