Which of the following terms, also known as hypersensitivity, is used to describe a condition in which the human body has an exaggerated response to a substance (e.g. food or drug)?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is option 2 i.e. Allergy.
The term used to describe an exaggerated response of the human body to a substance, such as food or drugs, is "allergy". Also known as hypersensitivity, an allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless substance (called an allergen) as a threat. This triggers an overreaction, leading to symptoms like rashes, sneezing, swelling, itching, or even severe reactions such as anaphylaxis. Common allergens include pollen, certain foods (like peanuts or shellfish), insect stings, and medications. Allergies vary in severity from mild irritation to life-threatening emergencies. The immune system’s role is to defend the body, but in allergic individuals, it reacts inappropriately to non-dangerous substances, highlighting a dysfunction in immune regulation.