Atopy: Condition, Disease, or Syndrome?

Abstract

The term “atopy” is relatively new, although it is derived from the ancient Greek. The American aller- gistsCocaandCooke[10]wantedtodescribeastrange, abnormal type of hypersensitivity against environ- mental substanceswhich was observed only in humans andtendedtooccurwithin families withoutobvious prior sensitization. They wanted to differentiate this type of hypersensitivity fromother forms such as ana- phylaxis [11] and asked the philologist Perry from Columbia University for help. This is in contrast to many other famous physicians who felt confident enough to create their own words from ancient lan- guages, sometimes linguistically not very correct but successful. For example, the term“anaphylaxis,” refer- ring to a lack of protection, should have been in correct Greek “aphylaxis” [40].However, for reasons of rhythm or from a lack of knowledge ofGreek, Richet,who later won theNobel prize, preferred “anaphylaxis” [37]. Per- ry cameup withtheterm“atopy,”meaning “not in the right place” or “strange” [10].