Quincke's edema or angioedema is a local, swiftly developing edema, most often of an allergic nature.
Main Features and Causes of Quincke Edema
Quincke's edema affects the deep layers of the dermis, develops suddenly and very quickly, with pronounced symptoms. First of all, it affects the mucous and areas with developed subcutaneous tissue: lips, eyes, face and neck, less often the limbs and the genital area.
In most cases, the disease is allergic, but, unlike urticaria, with the swelling of Quincke, the vascular component plays the main role. As a result of impaired vascular wall permeability, fluid accumulation occurs in the tissues. To eliminate the symptoms of Quincke's edema, the same methods are used as in the treatment of acute allergies.
Among allergens, the most frequent causes of Quincke's edema are insect bites (bees, wasps) and foods such as chocolate, peanuts, seafood. Drug allergy is most often observed in painkillers, sulfonamides, antibiotics of the penicillin group.
Isolated form of edema Quincke, provoked by hereditary factors. If there is such a predisposition, the onset of edema may be caused by infectious diseases, trauma or stress. Symptoms of allergic and non-allergic form of Quincke's edema coincide, but in treatment require a different approach.
Clinical symptoms of Quincke edema
The first symptoms of Quincke's edema appear within a few minutes to half an hour after exposure to an allergen or other provoking factor and develop rapidly. In this case it is observed:
- severe swelling of the tissues (violation of the proportions of the face, increase in the size of the lips, eyelids, other parts);
- itching is absent;
- skin taut, pale;
- swelling tight (no traces left on pressing);
- disturbance or complete disappearance of sensitivity in places of edema.
These symptoms outwardly look quite intimidating, but the immediate threat to life is not borne. The dangers of Quincke's edema are when symptoms of edema of the oral mucosa and larynx are added to the symptoms described above:
- swelling of the neck;
- swelling of the tongue, soft palate, tonsils;
- Persecution in the throat ;
- hoarseness of voice and difficulty with speech (due to edema of ligaments);
- barking cough;
- difficulty in breathing, even acute choking.
Symptoms that are life-threatening are observed on average in every fourth patient with Quinck's edema. Itching and eruptions, characteristic of other types of allergic reactions, with Quinck's edema are infrequent.
Other forms of edema Quincke
Also, with Quinck's swelling, the following symptoms are observed:
- Edema of meninges. With this form of Quincke edema, the symptoms that are typical of acute meningitis are observed. There may be nausea, dizziness, headaches, photophobia, convulsions and convulsive seizures, and other neurological disorders.
- Edema of the genitourinary system gives a clinical picture, similar to an attack of cystitis, with pains and delays when urinating.
- Swelling of the abdominal organs is manifested by severe non-localized pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting.
- The joint form of the disease is characterized by non-inflammatory swelling of the joints, restriction of their mobility. Often accompanied by itching.
In comparison with the edema of the face and mucous membranes, other forms of edema of Quincke are rare, and are often combined with obvious external manifestations.
Regardless of its shape and severity, Quincke's edema is a potentially life-threatening condition, so the first appearance of its symptoms is to take an antihistamine and call an ambulance.