Angioedema: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Angioedema is a type of skin allergy that is similar to hives, where swelling develops on the skin very rapidly. However, the difference between the two is that hives appears on the outer surface of the body, whereas angioedema occurs on the tissues underneath the skin. Angioedema mostly occurs near the eyes, mouth, throat, hands and feet. This allergy usually develops due to the consumption of certain foods that an individual is allergic to. When a person has an allergy, the body discharges histamine and some other chemicals in the blood stream and this causes angioedema.

There are mainly three type of angioedema - hereditary angioedema, acquired angioedema and angioedema-eosinophilia. In majority of the cases, angioedema does not cause much of a health problem, and it is only when it reaches a severe stage that it becomes dangerous to the health of a person.

Causes of Angioedema

One of the main causes of angioedema is food or medicine allergy. Food stuffs like eggs, nuts, seafood, milk, berries, etc., and some medicines like antibiotics, aspirin, blood pressure drugs, etc., can give rise to angioedema in an individual. Sometimes, angioedema can also arise due to sunlight, cold, heat or water exposure. An individual can have this skin allergy due to certain insect bites too. It has also been reported that angioedema can appear along with some autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms of Angioedema

The major sign of angioedema is swelling on the face, hands, throat, feet and on the private parts. One may also notice welts (an upraised mark) usually red in color. Swelling can also be found on the eyes and mouth. The welts can be painful as well as itchy, and if the irritation persists they begin to swell. Cases of sever angioedema occur when the swelling is found on the tongue or in the throat. This may give rise to difficulty in breathing, leading to giddiness and unconsciousness. Extreme cases may also lead to the death of an individual.

Treatment of Angioedema

When a person has mild angioedema, it usually goes away within 3-4 days with or without any specific treatment. Some of the treatments that can be sought at home for angioedema are using cool compress, having cool showers, wearing light and loose clothes, not doing strenuous physical activities, etc. A person can also be given over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines. If a person does not get better even after taking medicines, it is very essential to take him or her to the doctor.

A person with moderate angioedema would be prescribed certain medicinal drugs like hydroxyzine, desloratadine, cetirizine, etc., by the physician. Severe angioedema, where the individual has problems in breathing would have to be given immediate medical attention. Major attention should be given to keep the airway in the throat open. The patient may also be given H1 and H2 blockers, steroids, antihistamines and subcutaneous epinephrine.

People who have had angioedema previously are likely to experience it again. Hence, it is necessary that they take some precautions to avoid its recurrence. One should try to avoid things that can cause the development of this skin disease. Early treatment and proper care when a person has angioedema can help in the fast recovery of the individual, without further complications arising.