Swelling of the Quincke - symptoms and treatment, photo

Edema Quincke Quincke edema is predominantly an allergic reaction of the body to the action of various chemical and biological factors.

For the first time this condition was described in 1882 by the German doctor Heinrich Quinck, on whose behalf the name of this disease occurs. Quincke's edema is also commonly referred to as angioedema, giant urticaria.

Symptoms of Quincke's edema can occur in any person, but the highest risk of developing this condition exists in patients who have allergies. Most often this disease occurs in children and young women, they are less likely to suffer from elderly people.

Quincke's edema of the mucous membranes of the larynx is very dangerous - it can lead to death from suffocation. Less dangerous is the disease of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Photos, symptoms and treatment of this disease, we will consider today.

Classification

There are two types of Quincke edema - allergic and pseudoallergic. And they are precisely the causes that cause a dangerous condition.

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Allergic edema- the result of an allergic antigen-antibody reaction. Puffiness is the result of increased vascular permeability, triggered by the release in the body of bioactive substances - mediators (kinins, histamines, prostaglandins, cytokines, etc.). Provoke allergic edema can foods with increased allergenicity (chocolate, fish, citrus, milk, eggs, nuts), medicines, as well as other traditional allergens (flower pollen, animal fur, insect bites, etc.).
In the case ofpseudoallergic edema of Quinckethe cause of pathology are congenital defects of the complement system - a group of proteins that take part in the formation of primary immune and allergic reactions. Normally, these proteins remain in tranquility, and are activated only when the allergen enters the body. If there are defects in their structure, the complement system works either spontaneously or in response to thermal, chemical and cold stimuli.

Quincke is most often localized on the lips, tongue, eyelids, cheeks and larynx (the most dangerous case).

Causes

Why does Quincke develop and what is it? In a quarter of all edemas, poor heredity is to blame, in almost as many percent of cases, the cause of the angioedema can not be established. In other cases, Quincke's edema is caused by an allergy to medicines, food products, household chemicals, cosmetics, insect bites, the presence of worms in the body.

In the formation of a non-allergic type edema, the initiators can be the same allergens, as well as various nonspecific factors:

physical impact (cold, light, etc.);
stress;
intoxication;
infection.

The reaction of the body to blood diseases and some autoimmune conditions can also be manifested by Quincke's edema.

Quincke edema in children

Parents of every allergic child should know the most common causes of Quincke's life-threatening edema in children:

Some foods that provoke allergy in a particular child, as well as various food supplements that may be present in some food products: for example, a number of dangerous preservatives and dyes are found in sausages, exotic fish dishes, juices, cheese, etc .;
Acceptance of certain medications: antibiotics (in particular, penicillin), seizure agents, acetylsalicylic acid, iodine-containing drugs, B vitamins;
Pollen released during the flowering period of some plants.
Insect bites;

Edema in children can reach quite large sizes. In addition, it has a migratory nature, i.e., can arise in one or another place, as if moving.

Symptoms of Quincke Edema

When there is a swelling of Quincke, the symptoms are clearly expressed - lips, eyelids, respiratory tract, urogenital area swell. It happens very quickly. Half an hour is enough for the edema to affect the greater part of the skin and mucous membrane. In the lesions there is a painless swelling.

Specify the development of edema Quinck can any of the following:

Rapidly developing sudden edema of the face, in which there is an increase in cheeks and lips, as well as swelling of the upper eyelids;
Breathing becomes wheezy and difficult;
The color of the skin is slightly pale, and with a suffocation there is a cyanotic shade;
Sometimes there are signs of impaired functioning of the nervous system (anxiety, agitation, disorientation or complete loss of consciousness);
Swelling of the internal organs is accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and urination disorder;
With edema of the neck and lower jaw, the face oval changes its shape significantly;
When swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs in the patient, hoarseness is observed and a barking cough arises; At visual inspection it is possible to notice narrowing of a gap of a pharynx and loosening of the sky;
Quite often, the swelling of Quincke progresses with urticaria.

In children, Quincke's edema, most often, develops on the face, capturing such parts as the lips, tongue and throat. In the photo, placed in this section, you can see how the patient looks in this case. The edema persists for several hours (less than a day), then passes without a trace.

The danger of the disease is that the function of respiration worsens due to edema. If the patient does not receive help, he may die from asphyxia. In addition, the edema located on the face, with progression can capture the meninges, which threatens serious complications.

Edema Quincke photo

We offer to view detailed photos to understand what looks like Edema Quincke.

Diagnostics

Differential diagnosis is performed with lymphostasis, collateral edema with periostitis, erysipelas, Melkerson-Rosenthal syndrome. In the Melkerson-Rosenthal syndrome, along with edema of the lip of the chronic course, the folding of the tongue and neuritis of the facial nerve are revealed. With erysipelas, there is hyperemia (redness) in the area of lesions in the form of tongues of flame.

Effects

In those 20-25% of cases, when the symptoms of Quincke's edema affect the larynx, trachea, large bronchi, the life of the patient is in immediate danger. He may die of suffocation.

In addition, in severe cases, Quincke's edema can be the beginning of a very dangerous manifestation of an allergic reaction - anaphylactic shock, which also threatens death. Therefore, no independent treatment at home - call an ambulance!

Prevention

The main preventive action is the restriction of contacts with potential allergens. It is necessary to timely identify and treat diseases that provoke its development.

It is absolutely impossible to treat Quincke's edema alone, although it's good to all people who suffer from allergies to always have antiallergic drugs that are dispensed in pharmacies without prescriptions (Tavegil, Citrine, Letizen, Zodak).

First aid

If there is the slightest suspicion of Quincke's edema, the first priority is to call an ambulance. The development of the process is lightning fast, changing literally in a matter of seconds, and procrastination in this situation can end fatal.

Before the emergency ambulance arrives:

Sit the patient in a comfortable position, calm down.
As soon as possible, eliminate the allergen that caused the edema.
Give the patient an antihistamine. The drug will weaken the reaction and ease the condition before the arrival of ambulance.
Provide an abundant alkaline drink (per 1000 ml of water 1 g of soda, or narzan, or Borjomi). This helps to remove the allergen from the body.
As sorbents, enterosgel or ordinary activated carbon can be used.
Provide good access to fresh air, remove objects that impede breathing.

With a severe degree of edema, it is better not to take any measures yourself, so as not to provoke a worsening of the patient's condition, and to wait for an ambulance. The main thing is not to hurt the victim.

Treatment of Quincke Edema

In the case of diagnosis of Quincke's edema, first of all, it is necessary to stop contact with the suspected allergen. For elimination of the allergen that has already fallen into the body, the child must be given an abundant alkaline drink, enterosorbents (enterosgel, activated charcoal).

The first-line preparations for Quincke allergic edema in children are antihistamines (ketotifen, tavegil, klaritin, suprastin, dimedrol). Along with them, systemic corticosteroids (dexamethasone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone), diuretics (furosemide, diacarb, lasix) can be used. In order to reduce the permeability of blood vessels, ascorutin is prescribed.

In addition to treating Quincke's edema, drugs require a special diet and complete rest. If Quincke's edema led to such a complication as asphyxia, the doctor conducts intubation of the trachea and injects the muscle relaxant. In this case, the introduction of additional drugs - epinephrine and ephedrine may be necessary. Treatment of edema Quincke as a whole can take several weeks.

Thus, Quincke's edema, the symptoms and treatment described above, is easier to prevent than to quit. With a view to prevention, it is advisable to reduce the number of household and food allergens, try to avoid unreasonable use of medicines, and at the first manifestations any allergic reactions (dermatitis, urticaria, seasonal rhinitis, conjunctivitis or bronchial asthma) to contact an allergist.