What is angioedema?
Angioedema is the medical term for an allergic reaction that causes swelling of your dermis. The dermis is a layer of skin located below the mucous membrane. It mostly involves the eyes or lips and can be short lived or last up to a few days.
A common example of angioedema is the facial swelling observed after Will Smith’s character ingests shellfish in the movie Hitch. Although this is a good example of angioedema, often the degree of swelling is not as severe as in the movie.
What causes angioedema?
For some people, angioedema is a hereditary condition but this is fairly rare. For others, angioedema can be caused by various factors. If your body encounters a foreign substance, it releases histamine which then causes the swelling reaction. The list below contains triggers that could cause angioedema.
- Foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, wheat, cow milk and shellfish Pet dander
- Medications
- Heat or cold exposure
- Latex
- Insect stings
What are the symptoms of angioedema?
As previously described, the main symptoms of angioedema is swelling. Typically this swelling is the eyes or lips but can be found in other places like the mouth, feet, hand, genitals and tongue as well. Additional symptoms may include:
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing due to swelling in the throat
- Digestive issues
- Abdominal cramping
If you are experiencing troubles breathing due to your airways swelling, seek immediate emergency medical attention. This could be a life-threatening situation.
Diagnosing angioedema
In order to diagnose angioedema, your provider will likely start with questions regarding your health history as well as your family history, specifically if your family has a history of angioedema. Once this information is collected, additional testing may include skin or blood tests to provide the most accurate diagnosis.
Angioedema treatment options
There are various treatment options for angioedema. Depending on the severity of your angioedema, your treatment option could be anything from an antihistamine or steroid to an EpiPen. Determining the cause is an important step in the right direction for effective treatment and help with avoidance. Connect with a board-certified allergist today to see what works best for you.
To make an appointment with the Iowa Clinic Allergy department, schedule online or call 515.875.9450.