Taking a Closer Look at Angioedema
Angioedema is a medical condition that produces welts or swelling of tissues underneath the skin. The common areas that are affected are the part surrounding the eyes and the lips. Others areas that may be affected are other parts of the face and the neck, tongue and larynx. This condition is brought about because of an abnormality in the immune system. There have been five classification of this. These are hereditary angioedema, acquired angioedema, angioedema caused by allergic reactions, angioedema caused by medications and idiopathic angioedema.
Hereditary angioedema, as the name implies, is hereditary. It is brought about by low level and abnormal function of a protein called C1 inhibitor. Angioedema that is associated with allergic reactions may be due to the digestion of the following food: peanuts, chocolate, seafood, tomatoes, eggs and milk. Food additives and preservatives may also lead to the allergic reaction. Other factors such as dyes, pollen, or certain medications as well. Some people are more at risk for developing angioedema. These are people who have injuries, have an ovarian cyst, take ACE inhibitors such as captopril, lisinopril and enalapril and people who had a history of a body-wide allergic reation. People who are undergoing a dental procedure and women who are menstruating are also at risk.
To diagnose an individual as having angioedema, doctors will have to check the levels of the person’s C1 inhibitors and the C4 and C2 levels. If they are at low levels then the person may be having angioedema. The person’s diet will also be examined. The possible cause for the condition will be taken out of the person’s diet and then slowly reintroduced one at a time to test of it is the suspected triggers. Skin tests are also available to examine for which substances the skin is sensitive to. Certain symptoms may have also been experienced. The painful swelling of some parts of the body is the common sign of angioedema. Discolored patches of rash may appear on the hands, feet, face or genitals. An obstruction of the airway may also happen which will lead to throat swelling and hoarseness. An intestinal swelling may also bring about vomiting, dehydration and lack of appetite. Abdominal pains can be experienced as well. A syndrome called angioedema-eosinophilia will also bring about symptoms such as hives, itching, fever, muscle pain, decreased urine, and high white blood cell count.
The main focus during treatment is to first make sure that there is no obstruction of the airways. Then the possible reason for the development of the symptoms must be identified and remedied. Once a person experiences some of these symptoms, pain relievers and intravenous fluids will be taken for treatment. Pain relievers include epinephrine, antihistamines, and corticosteroids. The food that may have triggered the development of angioedema must also be eliminated. This must be a long term process and can also be supplemented with herbal support. Some examples of herbs that may help treat angioedema are devil’s claw root, gingko biloba extract, goldenseal, and licorice root. A homeopathic procedure called apis may also be done to help treat the condition. Some may also resort to acupuncture. This aims to reestablish the immune balance of the body and thus stop angioedema.
