Do I Have Angioedema?

Do you have swelling and redness around your eyes, cheeks, lips, hands, feet or genitals?

Do you have pain in the affected areas?

Do you feel warmth in the swollen areas?

Do you have welts that form quickly, in minutes to hours?

Did you have a prickling sensation in the affected area before the swelling became visible?

Does your swelling go away by itself within 3 days?

Do you have difficulty breathing due to a swollen throat or tongue?

Do you have vision problems or red, irritated eyes?

Do you have abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea?

Do you have difficulty urinating?

Do you have a family history of angioedema?

Have you tried any new food, medications, herbal remedies or supplements recently?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have angioedema. Angioedema is the type of swelling of the deeper layers of your skin. It can affect any part of your body, but commonly appears on your eyes, lips, genitals, hands and feet. Many people with angioedema have hives at the same time. For this reason, angioedema is often referred to as “giant hives”. Angioedema can be the result of an allergic reaction or a side effect of certain medications. Angioedema with an unknown cause is called idiopathic angioedema. There are also hereditary angioedema, which means that you may have angioedema due to “defective” genes.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have angioedema. Angioedema represents a swelling in the deep layers of your skin. It is a common and usually harmless condition. It is estimated that about 10 to 20 percent of adults will experience angioedema at least once during a lifetime. However, hereditary angioedema is a rare form of this condition affecting between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 50,000 people worldwide. Diagnosing angioedema is based on your medical history and pfysical examination. Your doctor will order blood tests or allergy tests to determine the type and the cause of angioedema.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have angioedema. Angioedema is a medical condition that refers to a swelling in deep layers of your skin. Normally, angioedema is not a serious condition and the swelling can go away without treatment within 24 hours. Occasionally, angioedema of the tongue or throat may cause difficulty breathing due to airway obstruction. In this case, angioedema represents a life-threatening situation. Treatment depends on the cause of angioedema. It includes antihistamines and oral steroids, and in the case of drug-induced angioedema, your doctor may recommend alternative medications for the underlying problem you are having.