Quincke's Edema: Causes and First Aid

An allergic condition, expressed in the most acute manifestations, is a Quincke edema. The reasons for its occurrence may be different. This condition is characterized by the strongest swelling of the skin and mucous membranes. Less often it can manifest itself in joints, meninges and internal organs. Usually this symptom is observed in people who are prone to allergies.

Features of the development of the symptom

Why do we say that Quincke's edema, the causes of which lie in allergies, is a symptom? It's simple. It is caused by the painful reaction of the body to an allergen. To understand how to help a patient, it is necessary to consider the mechanisms of development of the symptomatology. Quincke's swelling causes the following categories of causes:

• Plant and household factors in the form of pollen, dust, down and so on.
• Certain foods.
• Pharmaceutical factor - an allergy to any drug or substance included in it.
• Chemical factor - hair dyes, household chemicals, cosmetics, building materials and so on.

The allergic reaction is divided into two types - immediate and delayed. Quincke's edema, the causes of which we have considered, is precisely the immediate reaction of the body to an irritant (allergen). And this is an extremely dangerous form of manifestation of the disease. Allergen, getting into the body, causes it to produce a huge amount of histamine, which in a normal situation is inactive. He begins to quickly activate, release, passing into a pathological state. At the same time, swelling begins immediately with subsequent thickening of the blood, which leads to this symptomatology.

It is worth knowing that allergy sufferers who have diseases of the endocrine system, other internal organs, viral and parasitic forms of infections, are at risk. Their history of the disease Quincke's edema very often includes. Now it is worth considering various types of these symptoms, which can appear even in people not prone to allergies.

Types of edema Quincke

The first type is allergic, which is caused by allergens of a particular species. It always manifests itself as a special specific response from the body. Most often it manifests itself due to food allergies.

Non-allergic, or pseudo-Quincke manifests itself in those who have an innate tendency. Allergen, getting into the body, activates proteins, which are designed to eliminate the irritant of the defense mechanism, producing a humoral regulation. Any violation in the work of complement leads to the fact that a vast allergic reaction arises and develops.

With non-allergic form, swelling affects the skin, mucous membranes, stomach and intestines. The most exacerbated forms of this symptom occur when a person experiences temperature changes, trauma or stressful situations.

But a third of the cases can not be explained even by specialists with a world-wide reputation. For such situations, food and drug allergies, insect bites, blood flow diseases, autoimmune diseases are likely.

It is also worth noting the different types of Quincke edema, which are characterized and divided by the course of processes in the body. It is acute (up to 1.5 months), chronic (from six weeks), acquired, hereditary, limited and form, accompanied by hives.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction

This response of the body to the allergen manifests itself with strong swelling of the skin, in which the covers acquire a strong pallor. Most often there is swelling of the facial cover, feet, the rear surfaces of the hands. Pain is absent. Swelling of the skin is very dense, with pressure does not form a familiar fossa for the normal skin. Hives may develop with characteristic itching and red spots.

But the main danger lies in the swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, which can simply close. A man dies of asphyxiation, that is, he simply suffocates. Edema of the larynx, pharynx, and trachea is extremely dangerous and manifests itself in difficulty breathing, anxiety, barking coughing, hoarse voice, blue skin, followed by blanching. The last stage is loss of consciousness from lack of oxygen. Determine such edema easily by swelling of the palate, narrowing the pharynx.

The swelling of the internal organs manifests itself in severe pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting, tingling of the tongue and sky. In such cases, external puffiness may not be observed. The swelling of the membranes of the brain is manifested by lethargy, inhibition, impossibility to touch the chin to the chest with the inclination of the head, nausea, convulsions. Edemas with different localization are manifested by inhibition or excitability, pains in the joints, fever.

How to quickly remove the swelling of Quincke

First, regardless of the condition of the patient, it is necessary to call a doctor, as the disease can develop more than one hour. Secondly, isolate the victim from the allergen. If you are bitten by an insect, remove the sting if the problem is caused by medication, food, drink - do not let them eat. Calm the patient, as the emotional load leads to a rapid deterioration of the condition. Fresh air is needed. With the victim removed the tie, belt, corset, loosen the collar. It is necessary to open the window. To maximize the removal of edema, apply a cold compress to the site of the lesion.

If the patient has bitten an insect or had an injection, it is necessary to apply a tourniquet to reduce the intake of the allergen in the body. It is necessary to remove the allergen from the human body with the help of drinking - water of room temperature will come in large quantities. It is also necessary to give the patient a sorbent, an antihistamine drug, to drip vasoconstrictive drops in the nose. If there is severe asphyxia with an inability to breathe, intubation of the trachea should be performed. Further treatment is for doctors.