There are specific skin and health conditions that go beyond our understanding. We might feel them when they have occurred in our body but never see them coming because we don’t have experienced them before; neither are we aware of the presence of a particular disease.
There are many unexplained diseases, and science is yet trying to find a solution to them. The research is on-going for the welfare of everyone collectively, such as Alzheimer’s disease. But there are conditions that we are not aware of, but they tend to trouble you at an unexpected hour and need medical attention as soon as possible.
The name, Angioedema, is known as one such condition. Yes, the illness might not be something you are aware of, but it might have occurred to you once in your lifetime, and at that moment, you were most probably unaware of it and struggled to tolerate the illness.
Angioedema is a rapid edema condition or, in common words, the area’s swelling just beneath your skin deep in the tissues, which could either be an allergic reaction or something you were transmitted from your parents or any family member.
The reason behind this condition is understood up till now is the accumulation of fluids in one particular area, especially the place where there are loose tissues present, such as the face, eyelids, throat, and even your genitals.
Sources say that this condition is similar to urticaria. We know it as hives; the only difference that prevails is that urticaria affects only the upper layer of the skin or dermis. Still, angioedema affects the upper dermis and the deeper tissues such as subcutaneous tissue and the mucosa.
Types of Angioedema
Experts have identified four primary types of angioedema over the years, which have likely affected people in most reported cases.
Drug-induced Angioedema
Angioedema has been noticed as a side-effect of medications that are meant for blood pressure or hypertension. Such drugs are also known as ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors are indicated for calming our veins and arteries to bring down the blood circulation level to usual or lower levels in high blood pressure.
Doctors have mentioned that most of the cases with angioedema reported in the emergency are the side-effects of ACE inhibitors. In that case, they prescribe these patients with different medication for their blood pressure condition. Sometimes even pain killers like aspirin, which is an anti-inflammatory drug, also have side-effects like angioedema.
Allergic Angioedema
Allergic angioedema is the most common type of angioedema experienced by people who could be allergic to a specific food, animal dander, medication, etc. If they do that particular activity, they do react to the form of angioedema.
There have also been cases where an allergic individual suffers from anaphylaxis, angioedema in the throat. They find it hard to breathe or consume any particular food or anything. If one is experiencing anaphylaxis, it is a medical emergency, and one needs to rush the individual to medical care as soon as possible.
The best way to treat allergic angioedema is to identify the thing causing an allergic reaction and avoid it, which will ultimately reduce the chances of allergic angioedema.
Idiopathic Angioedema
Idiopathic diseases are those to which there are no defined causes, and they appear spontaneously. Idiopathic Angioedema is the type where the doctors cannot find a probable cause, which is the reason behind angioedema. Doctors are being confirmed when there aren’t any visible signs to establish the causes of angioedema.
Hereditary Angioedema
Hereditary Angioedema is a condition where a person has been genetically transmitted with the disease from someone in the family or the complete bloodline. The chances are that the state keeps coming and going with the period. In this case, there is a problem with C1 inhibitor protein, and the person is most likely to have lower blood levels of this protein type.
There are, however, other causes why this condition affects a person in some instances, such as during pregnancy, any infection, or a specific medication. Most of the time, if the cause turns into something severe, the person needs to be rushed to the hospital.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The swelling that is visible on the upper layer of the skin goes deep into the tissues and could occur at any part of the body, such as genitals, hands, legs, feet, and even in the small intestine, which could cause stomach pain and other related symptoms.
Generally, angioedema signs begin to appear very rapidly. They are visible for up to 3 days, and there are times when hives also start appearing along with it, which causes a lot of itching. At times the affected area with swelling becomes painful and hot.
The vision is affected, and if the condition occurs in the throat and makes it difficult for the air to pass through the ways, this condition turns into Bronchospasm. The disease’s diagnosis is straightforward and speedy since the symptoms indicate the type of angioedema a person is experiencing.
The doctor might ask for the person’s family history and or allergy to any specific food item. The doctor might go for:
- Skin prick test with a small amount of allergen to test its reaction and whether there is a sign of angioedema.
- a blood test to check the immune system’s response to the allergen
- Blood test for checking the levels of C1 protein in the blood
What is the Cure to the Condition?
The first and foremost treatment for angioedema is immediate medical attention to the individual experiencing angioedema in their throat and has difficulty breathing. A breathing tube might be inserted for the safety of breathing.
Moreover, the best thing to do is avoid any element one is allergic to, and it would become easier to cure or get rid of the condition. Ultimately, the type of angioedema would only decide the medication that will affect the person.
In the case of a hereditary type, specific potent medication is prescribed that helps in the levels of C1 protein in the blood.
Remember, if the angioedema has reached the throat and the person could not breathe properly, feel dizzy, or collapses, one needs to immediately take him/her to the hospital. Else the condition might turn too severe.
