Angioedema (angioneurotic edema)

May 12, 2012

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Angioedema - Mainly allergic reaction to various factors of chemical and biological nature. For the first time this condition was described in 1882 by German physician Heinrich Quincke, on behalf of which comes the name of the disease. Angioedema is also called angioedema . angioedema .

In the development of acute allergic disease the person has a massive swelling of the skin, mucosa and subcutaneous fat. The most common angioedema appears on the neck and on the upper half of the body. It is also possible manifestation of swelling on the back of the feet and hands. More rarely consider the situation when angioedema affects the joints, lining of the brain, other organs.

Angioedema can occur in every person, but still the highest risk of developing this condition exists in patients who have had all sorts of allergies . Most often this disease occurs in children and young women, they rarely suffer from the elderly.

Causes of angioedema

There are two types of angioedema: swelling allergic   and swelling pseudoallergic . With the development of angioedema causes of this condition in each case are different. The first manifestation of the disease as angioedema, symptoms of which occur in people prone to allergies, there is a particularly strong as a result of an allergic reaction of the human body. This response is a response to the emergence of a specific body allergen . Very often, this condition can be combined with Allergies food . hives . asthma . hay fever .

People who have had a congenital abnormality of the complement system, often suffer from pseudoallergic angioedema. Complement system called group proteins blood That are involved in the development of primary and allergic immune responses. These proteins are constantly in an inactive state: their activation occurs only during contact with the foreign antigen into the body. If you have pseudoallergic angioedema complement system is activated either spontaneously or in response to heat, cold, chemical irritation. As a result, the person has a severe allergic reaction.

Angioedema in young children appears relatively rare. However, even in an infant may occur a dangerous condition. Most often angioedema seen in girls and women.

Symptoms of angioedema

A patient with symptoms of angioedema, in particular, manifest occurrence of acute edema of face, neck, feet and hands on their back side. The skin at the site of swelling noticeably pale. As a rule, angioedema itching occurs. For different situations manifested angioedema disappears after a few hours or days.

For a man the greatest danger is swelling larynx . throat . trachea . According to medical statistics, such manifestations occur in every fourth patient with angioedema. With such development of the disease the patient begins to experience a sharp anxiety, it becomes hard to breathe, it can lose consciousness. On examination of the mucous membrane of the throat swelling of the soft palate is found and palatine arches, while the lumen of the pharynx narrows. If edema extends to the trachea and larynx, possible death of a person from suffocation .

Angioedema occurs in children as limited swelling of the skin and mucous membranes. If you experience angioedema in the internal organs of the baby can be confusing for severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.

Diagnosis of angioedema

The diagnosis in this case is set after a doctor familiar with the existing symptoms of the disease. Also take into account the reaction to the introduction of edema adrenaline . In the process of diagnosis it is very important to determine what exactly was the cause of the patient's angioedema. Therefore, the doctor must be sure to carry out a detailed survey of the presence of allergic disease in a patient and his family members. It is important to determine its reaction to the medication, the impact on the state of human physical factors, contact with animals, food, and others.

In the process of diagnosing doctor may prescribe laboratory tests of blood. Sometimes, if necessary, in the process of diagnosis of angioedema should spend allergological skin samples.

Treatment of angioedema

The patient who developed angioedema, treatment is carried out to suppress the allergic reaction. In each case, symptoms of this disease, be sure to consider the possibility of swelling in the airways and subsequent death of a person due to suffocation. Therefore, the development of patient injury pharynx and larynx, you must immediately call an ambulance. Patients with angioedema of the larynx or pharynx hospitalized and further treatment is carried out in the emergency room or intensive care unit.

If there is a food reaction, your doctor will recommend strict adherence is required to hypoallergenic diet . In the treatment of angioedema in both children and adults may receive appointment antihistamines . If there is a sensitivity to food, it can reduce reception enzyme preparations , eg, Festal .

Angioedema children

Angioedema in children can sometimes grow to very large sizes. This results in its migration, ie swelling manifested in one or the other place. Swelling of the touch is very dense and uniform, when he was pressed, the groove does not appear. Approximately half of the cases occur a combination of angioedema and urticaria. However, the most severe condition is laryngeal edema. In this case, parents should pay attention to the following specific symptoms: initially the child becomes very difficult to breathe, the skin on his face with a blue color, a little later she abruptly fades. The duration of laryngeal edema, and mild to moderate severity sometimes varies from one hour to one day.

If you experience angioedema in the gastrointestinal tract was originally a child complains of tingling palate, tongue, and then there is diarrhea and vomiting. Also concerned about the baby a sharp pain in his stomach.

Even with the manifestation of angioedema on the skin only occasionally suffers from a child fever , Pain in the joints, dithers. Also, possible loss of consciousness.

The occurrence of angioedema and possibly as a result of taking certain medications. First of all, the reception provoke swelling antibiotics , in particular Penicillin . Not safe for children who are prone to allergies and medications, relieves cramps, B vitamins . acetylsalicylic acid . preparations Iodine . Also, such reactions can cause substances which additives are certain drugs.

Parents should take into account the fact that trigger the development of angioedema in a child can not only certain foods to which the baby allergies, and additives contained in some foods. It is a number of preservatives and dyes, which are often found in sausages, juices, cheese and others. Exotic dishes such as fish, also carry the risk of provoking angioedema.

In addition, unsafe for children prone to allergies, is a flowering plant, and insect bites.

First aid for angioedema

If a child or an adult angioedema occurs, first aid should be provided to the patient before the arrival of doctors. Most importantly in this case urgently stop the contact with the allergen, for example, to remove the sting of the insect to cease administered drug. If swelling has developed as a result of a bite on the affected area, you can apply a cold compress. The man, who appeared edema, should be before the arrival of doctors give a lot of drinking. Also effective in some cases, be sorbents   - eg, Activated carbon . If the patient has difficulty breathing space and discoloration of the face due to his angioedema, treatment of this condition is carried out by intramuscular injection prednisolone .

Prevention of angioedema

Among the measures aimed at the prevention of angioedema, people prone to allergic reactions, you must constantly observe a very strict diet. Allergens should be removed not only from the diet, but also from the human environment. During the forced contact with substances that cause allergic reaction (e.g., at the time when flowering plants), it should be antihistamines .

Particular attention on preventive measures should be paid to parents whose children suffer from such allergies. To prevent sudden manifestations of angioedema should be not only to prevent a child contact with allergens, but also take care of the cleanliness of the house, often wet cleaning, ventilate the room to monitor the level of humidity and temperature.

Children who have a high sensitivity to insect bites should avoid walking barefoot in the street, wearing bright things that can attract insects. In addition, parents should take care of the complete first aid kit, which should always be the first means to help the child at the sudden development of allergy.