| undernutrition | Failing health that results
from a long-standing dietary intake that is not
enough to meet nutritional needs.
|
 |
|
|
| percentile | Classification of a measurement
of a unit into divisions of 100 units.
|
|
|
|
| allergy | A hypersensitive immune response
that occurs when immune bodies produced
by us react with a protein we sense as foreign
(an antigen).
|
|
|
|
| early childhood caries | Tooth decay that
results from formula or juice (and even human
milk) bathing the teeth as the child sleeps
with a bottle in his or her mouth. The upper
teeth are mostly affected as the lower teeth
are protected by the tongue; formerly called
nursing bottle syndrome and baby bottle
tooth decay.
|
|
|
|
| food intolerance | An adverse reaction to
food that does not involves an allergic
reaction.
|
|
|
|
| allergen | A foreign protein, or antigen, that
induces excess production of certain immune
system antibodies; subsequent exposure to the
same protein leads to allergic symptoms.
Whereas all allergens are antigens, not all antigens
are allergens.
|
|
|
|
| food sensitivity | A mild reaction to a substance
in a food that might be expressed as
slight itching or redness of the skin.
|
|
|
|
| anaphylactic shock | A severe allergic response
that results in lowered blood pressure
and respiratory and gastrointestinal distress.
This can be fatal.
|
|
|
|
| antigen | Any substance that induces a state
of sensitivity and/or resistance to microorganisms
or toxic substances after a lag period;
substance that stimulates a specific aspect of
the immune system.
|
|
|
|
| elimination diet | A restrictive diet that
systematically tests foods that may cause an
allergic response by first eliminating them for
1 to 2 weeks and then adding them back, one
at a time.
|