Angioedema: causes, symptoms and treatment

The angioedema is only the edema or swelling of skin and mucous membranes, usually painless and pruritic not self – limiting that can affect even the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. Despite the fact that it is a frequent disease, very few patients go to the emergency service consultation will need a hospital admission for this reason.

Angioedema usually lasts less than 72 hours . The most frequent sites where angioedema is located are:

• Method.
• Lips.
• Hands.
• Pies.
• Genitals.

This is also known as quincke’s edema or formerly as angioneurotic edema , it is a process similar to urticaria but it differs from it and since it occurs under the skin instead of on the body surface.

Obviously there are some predisposing factors to present angioedema. Some of its main causes are:

• Angioedema and previous urticaria
• Lupus , lymphoma, or thyroid disease.
• History of allergic reactions.

The main cause of edema is the increased permeability of the capillaries of the mucosa, submucosa and postcapillaries, producing in turn extravasation of the plasma generating edema in the affected tissue. Other causes are also associated with its appearance , such as:

• Genetics : angioedema tends to be a hereditary pathology related to decreased levels or abnormal functioning of blood proteins responsible for regulating the functioning of the immune system.
• Medications : some drugs can present as adverse reactions the presence of angioedema, among the most common are aspirin, ibuprofen and penicillins, in fact some medications that control blood pressure are also causes of angioedema.
• Food : not all people are the same, some are sensitive, some foods that can cause allergic reactions such as fish, shellfish, eggs and milk.
• Other allergic reactions : such as the presence of pollen, animal hair or insect bites. It can also include other allergic reactions related to environmental factors such as heat, cold, sunlight and water.
• Other causes: including some responses to blood transfusions, hepatitis, and Epstein-Barr virus.

The symptoms of angioedema are characterized because the itching is non-existent and there is a burning or pain sensation . The swelling or edema is generated in the face (eyelids, tongue, lips), throat, digestive tract, respiratory tract, sometimes in the genitals. Angioedema is usually accompanied by urticaria, but these two conditions differ in that angioedema presents with a much deeper edema.

It can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Sickness.
• Vomiting
• Crampy abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.

Obviously, medical evaluation is essential for the diagnosis of angioedema, most of the time it is not usually necessary to carry out blood tests. The doctor is in charge of performing the visual inspection and recognizing the typical or characteristic injuries.

The medical history and anamnesis are essential to know the cause and the triggers that, together with the symptoms, lead us to the proper diagnosis.

No signs or symptoms should be overlooked at the time of the medical visit, essential to specifically determine the cause of the reaction.

Initially, what should be done in the presence of angioedema is to immediately go to the doctor who is the specialist for any health problem.

Without a doubt, the clinical picture, the predisposing factors and the causative agent will be decisive when indicating a treatment that is based on the use of adrenaline , antihistamine and corticosteroids only under strict medical indication.

Mild symptoms generally do not need treatment, however moderate or severe symptoms need immediate medical evaluation and treatment . If this is not possible, complications can become severe, for example, anaphylactic reaction or airway obstruction (a life-threatening problem).

Finally, once the edema appears, relapses should be prevented by avoiding contact with the predisposing factors so as not to irritate the affected area.

Some natural remedies for angioedema can be coadjuvant in pharmacological treatments indicated by specialists, such as:

• Apply cool, wet compresses to the site of angioedema.
• Wear loose cotton clothing to avoid skin irritation.
• The use of vitamin B12 and C help reduce the frequency of angioedema.
• The turmeric reduces inflammation in the area can be used by mixing one teaspoon with sufficient water to form a paste and applying it to the affected area.
• Green vegetables like spinach broccoli inhibit histamine release thus decreasing swelling or edema.
• A natural anti-inflammatory is chamomile leaves that can be placed in water for 2 hours and then placed on the skin or the area where the injury is, in addition to being anti-inflammatory, it is soothing and sedative.

At FastlyHealwe want to teach you in a simpler way the causes, predisposing factors, symptoms, treatment and natural remedies, we also recommend that you go to the doctor immediately as soon as the first symptoms of it appear.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Angioedema: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category .