An overall approach to treatment of allergic disease

Allergy as a scientific term, and clinical allergy are two different things. Confusion as to what is meant by 'allergy' depends significantly on an illogical omission to name a level of reactivity which pertains to a cell or tissue prior to augmentation of that level by an allergic reaction. Hyper-reactivity is suggested as a term denoting raised non-specific reactivity pertaining to the inherent reactivity of cells, as distinct from excessive reactivity induced by specific antigenic enhancement. Some of the implications of discrimination between these qualities have been mentioned so far as impact on the assessment and treatment of clinically allergic subjects is concerned.