Angioedema is characterized by accumulation of fluid on the deep layers of the skin. It causes inflammation of the tissues below your skin and occurs often in eyes, lips, hands, feet and genitals. It produces red colored raised patches on your skin and the size may vary from small to large blotches. The important feature of this disease is it affects deep layers of the skin unlike other infection that attacks only superficial layers. Angioedema can be treated well with antihistamine drugs. It is also called as hives forming nettle rash like appearance on the deep skin.
In rare cases the swelling occurs in deep throat region thus blocking the airway causing complications.
Symptoms :
There will be swelling of skin in the affected area like hands, feet or eyes. It forms thick large sized welts causing pain and discomfort on the eyes or lips. In case it occurs in the inner lining of throat or tongue it can cause difficulty in eating and breathing.
Hereditary angioedema is inherited and present in genes. It can affect your skin suddenly causing rapid swelling on arms, legs, face and genitals. In rare cases it affects the digestive tract causing inflammation and pain, which may cause abdominal pain.
Types :
Angioedema is classified into 4 major types.
- Allergic angioedema is induced by severe allergic reaction caused by contamination of food or severe cold.
- Idiopathic angioedema is the type that has no concrete cause and produces only the symptoms.
- Hereditary angioedema is inherited by birth and occurs due to the presence of faulty genes.
- Drug induced angioedema occurs due to side effects of medications like ACE inhibitors given for controlling blood pressure.
Causes :
Exact cause of angioedema is not known but is believed to be induced by allergic reaction to food. Hives are also produced due to adverse tissue reaction by stimulation of mast cells that secretes histamine into the blood.