Angioedema: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
People have different allergies, which are caused by either substances or environments. Allergy triggers abnormal body reactions, and some may be severe. Out of the allergies, Angioedema is the most severe allergy that causes skin swelling! It may seem impossible, but that's how angioedema affects the body. Generally, it causes swelling of all body parts.
It is severe when it attacks the respiratory system like the throat, lungs, and tongue. When not treated, it can threaten life or cause permanent body deformation. Have you been wondering how Angioedema affects individuals? Here are the significant signs, symptoms and treatment options.
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Symptoms of Angioedema
Swelling
It is the first symptom of angioedema and the worst symptom. The victim experiences swelling and puffiness of the hands, eyes, lips, legs, stomach, throat, tongue, and sometimes, the genitalia (1). The swelling of lips, tongue, and throat causes physical obstruction of the digestive and respiratory systems; thus, this complication is referred to as life-threatening. Sometimes, the swelling can be accompanied by a non-painful sensation.
Redness
The skin develops spots that look like skin rashes but not skin rashes. They appear in every part of the body, including those with no swelling. The spots may be raised or flat on the skin, becoming pale when pressed.
Rash
The skin develops rashes which appear as clusters that turn dark red when pressed and they can appear anywhere on the body parts. They can be raised or flat on the body's skin. Sometimes, the rashes are accompanied by itching.
Stomach disorders
Angioedema is a hereditary health complication and is associated with stomach upset. Victims of angioedema experience nausea at tender stages. The victim may lose appetite and vomit after taking some foods like spices and stomach ache.
Diarrhea Since angioedema causes swelling of the digestive system, victims undergo mild diarrhea, but not all diarrhea is associated with angioedema. However, the occurrence of diarrhea is less frequent.
Difficult in breathing
Victims of angioedema experience difficulty breathing due to the swelling of the respiratory system (2). When the throat is attacked, breathing becomes painful and mostly threatens life. Physical obstruction due to the raised rashes and redness prevents excellent airflow.
Eating complications When rashes and redness attack the tongue, throat, and lips, it becomes painful to chew and swallow food. The victim finds it hard to eat, and this is the easy way to notice symptom of angioedema.
Treatment of Angioedema
The treatment of angioedema depends on the cause and the severity. For most severe instances, breathing tubes may help the victim in breathing. Treatment of angioedema caused by hereditary genes is different from the caused by an allergy. Here are several ways of treating angioedema:
Avoid substances that cause allergy
It is always better to prevent than to cure. The first remedy to angioedema is avoiding substances that trigger angioedema, like foods and drinks. Once you realize a particular substance is causing swelling, it is good enough to avoid it. For example, if you are allergic to certain spices, it is recommended to check the ingredients before consuming them.
Taking stimulants and antibiotics
When you realize you're infected with angioedema, visiting a doctor is always the next option. The specialist may recommend you to use medicine like antihistamines and steroid medicine. Antihistamines block the effects of histamine, which causes swelling.
Hereditary angioedema drugs
Some people are affected by angioedema because their ancestors had the same disease (3). If it is hereditary, it is unavoidable, but it is curable. If you have a genetic type of angioedema, you can take medicine to lower histamines and proteins in the blood to relieve the effects.
Use of anti-inflammatory drugs For severe angioedema, it is recommended to take drugs to relieve the swelling and itching. Sometimes swelling is not always associated with angioedema, and taking such drugs may help establish precisely the cause of the node. Anti-histamines also help in combating the episodes of angioedema.
Swelling the skin is a typical complication, but it is likely to be angioedema when it becomes severe. As explained, angioedema is a life-threatening condition when it attacks the respiratory and digestive systems. In some cases, it can be challenging to treat because the patient experiences difficulty eating and breathing unless life-supporting machines are used.
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