Dorothy FarrarQuincke-edema
Quincke’s edema , also known as angioedema, describes a painful, sudden swelling of the skin. Quincke’s edema mainly occurs on the face, tongue, eyelids, lips or throat. Swelling that occurs in the throat area can sometimes be life-threatening.
What is Quincke’s edema?
The doctor describes the term Quincke’s edema as swelling that occurs suddenly and forms on the subcutaneous tissue. The swelling is clearly visible, causes pain and occurs mainly in the area of the face or in the mucous membrane of the throat.
In some cases, Quincke’s edema was also found in the intestinal mucosa or on the genitals. Quincke’s edema also causes severe pain in these positions. Quincke’s edema lasts for around three days and occurs repeatedly – at irregular but sometimes short intervals. The swelling occurs equally in children and adults and must be treated medically. Especially when the pharynx or neck area is affected by Quincke’s edema; a swelling in the throat is life-threatening!
causes
The most common reason why Quincke’s edema forms is attributed to an allergic reaction . Insect bites or various food intolerances primarily resolve the sudden swelling. Quincke’s edema is often accompanied by hives . Quincke’s edema also has a hereditary background. If there is a hereditary cause, there is a further consequence of a malformation or reduced formation of the protein that is sometimes responsible for the swelling.
However, Quincke’s edema, which is hereditary, occurs relatively less frequently than swellings that form as a result of allergic reactions. In a few cases, Quincke’s edema also occurs without a direct connection or trigger, so that – from a medical point of view – there is no cause.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of Quincke’s edema:
- swollen throat
Classic symptoms include swelling of the eyelids, tongue and lips, and swelling of the throat. The patient complains of severe pain and may experience shortness of breath if swelling occurs in the throat area. However, Quincke’s edema can be treated quite well. If it is an allergic cause, the trigger of that reaction must first be determined and then avoided.
If acute swelling occurs, immediate medical treatment is required. Especially if the swelling occurs in the throat and neck area. The patient suffers from shortness of breath; there is an acute danger to life, since the patient – due to the shortness of breath – can suffocate.
Diagnose
The doctor recognizes Quincke’s edema based on its characteristic appearance. Only in very few cases (if the doctor cannot rule out other diseases) is a tissue sample taken. The doctor maintains a patient interview and reviews his patient’s medical history. Ultimately, the conversation and the medical history can already give an indication of why the patient is affected by Quincke’s edema. Using special blood tests , it is possible for the doctor to determine whether it is hereditary or allergic to Quincke’s edema.
treatment and therapy
If it is an acute Quincke’s edema, the doctor can start an uncomplicated and quickly applicable therapy. However, this is only possible if the trigger (hereditary or allergic reaction) is known. If there is an allergic reaction that triggered Quincke’s edema, anti-inflammatory drugs can alleviate the symptoms. These can include antihistamines , preparations containing cortisone , calcium or adrenaline .
These medications are administered by the doctor by injection. The injection given relieves the symptoms relatively quickly. To prevent further development of Quincke’s edema, the trigger that causes the allergic reaction must be avoided. However, if the hereditary variant of Quincke’s edema is present, no anti-inflammatory drugs will help.
The doctor must inject the malformed protein intravenously into the patient. If there is swelling in the pharynx, which subsequently causes shortness of breath, only a tracheostomy can ensure the survival of the patient. If the patient complains of recurring swellings, provided that Quincke’s edema is hereditary, treatment – in the context of administration of the male sex hormone – can alleviate the symptoms and symptoms. Above all, the administration of the sex hormone ensures a general production of proteins, so that the painful and sometimes life-threatening swelling can be reduced.
However, this treatment is only administered rarely and in the case of severe symptoms or frequent occurrence of Quincke’s edema. This is because hormone treatment causes a relatively large number of (undesirable) side effects that can limit daily life.
prevention
Prevention is only possible if the trigger that sometimes causes the allergic reaction is identified. If there is a hereditary cause, Quincke’s edema cannot be prevented or cannot be prevented directly. It is important that – if swelling develops – the doctor is consulted or, in the case of severe swelling, hormone therapy is sometimes considered.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.