Final answer:
Hives are medically referred to as urticaria. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening, and epinephrine is used to treat it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition known as hives is referred to medically as urticaria. In the context of allergic reactions, anaphylaxis is a systemic, potentially life-threatening reaction which may require immediate treatment with a drug like epinephrine. This is important to know because those experiencing anaphylaxis may carry an epinephrine autoinjector to use during a reaction. On the other hand, while anaphylactic shock can be a consequence of a severe allergy, it is not the medical term for hives.