anaphylaxis

an·a·phy·lax·is  (n-f-lkss)

n.

1. Hypersensitivity especially in animals to a substance, such as foreign protein or a drug, that is caused by exposure to a foreign substance after a preliminary exposure.

2. See anaphylactic shock.

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[ana- + (pro)phylaxis.]

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ana·phy·lactic (-lktk), ana·phy·lactoid (-toid) adj.

ana·phy·lacti·cal·ly adv.

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anaphylaxis  (n-f-lkss)

See anaphylactic shock.

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anaphylaxis

extreme sensitivity to an antigen, causing secretion of histamine and attendant adverse reactions, sometimes fatal. — anaphylactic, adj.

See also: Disease and Illness

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

anaphylaxis - hypersensitivity reaction to the ingestion or injection of a substance (a protein or drug) resulting from prior contact with a substance drug - a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic anaphylactic shock - a severe and rapid and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reaction to a substance (especially a vaccine or penicillin or shellfish or insect venom) to which the organism has become sensitized by previous exposure hypersensitivity reaction - an inappropriate and excessive reaction to an allergen (as pollen or dust or animal hair or certain foods); severity ranges from mild allergy to severe systemic reactions leading to anaphylactic shock