Angio-Oedema

Acute swelling affecting eyes and lips, maybe linked with urticaria.
Symptoms include
  • Acute facial swelling
  • Swollen lips and or tongue
  • Swollen eyelids
Related Problems
  • Urticaria or hives
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Food intolerance
  • Fungi sensitivity
  • Food chemical sensitivity

Contact us about this condition

CondDetailImgPlaceholderAngio-oedema is thought to be the result of immediate allergy and the release of histamine from a number of immune cells. Angio-oedema describes the acute swelling, which affects some people's eyes, lips and face, causing temporary changes in one's facial features. If the tongue also swells up, the voice and breathing may be affected. Sometimes angio-oedema can coincide with hives, also known as urticaria. Both are the result of fluid flushing into the skin and other tissues causing acute swelling. Occasionally, the symptoms are severe and may lead to anaphylaxis shock. Skin irritation can occur on its own, without any visible skin changes, often triggered by the same causes.

In search for a cause

In most cases, angio-oedema is thought to be auto-immune or idiopathic, which suggests that a cause is difficult to confirm. Sometimes angio-oedema may occur in combination with urticaria. In our experience, allergic reactions to some foods, e.g. peanuts or seafood, are uncommon causes but, due to their serious nature, they have to be investigated thoroughly.

Some common causes of angio-oedema:

  • Type B delayed food allergy or food intolerance
  • Intolerance to common colourings and other additives, often seen in children, and some preservatives
  • Reactions to common medications, such as penicillin
  • Reaction to some chemicals naturally found in some foods
  • Sensitivity to some fungi, otherwise known as yeasts
  • Allergy to common airborne allergens i.e. pollens, cat or dog dander, horse hair and house dust mites

Most of the above factors tend to mimic, i.e disguise themselves as an immediate, severe allergy, but often involve different mechanisms from those causing an immediate allergy, without its dangers. Contrary to popular belief, intestinal parasites do not cause urticaria or angio-oedema.
Investigations

If immediate severe allergy is suspected, it is safer to carry out allergy tests with blood samples. As in allergy to seafood or peanuts, skin prick tests are best avoided as they carry a risk of potentially severe reactions. Skin prick tests are flawed by the fact that they frequently miss delayed allergies to food intolerance, salicylates in various foods and candida. In the absence of accurate laboratory tests, these diagnoses currently remain outside the repertory of day-to-day medicine.

How can we help you?

Identifying the root cause.
TIP 1: Life threatening allergies are uncommon causes of angio-oedema but on the increase; it is important they are properly investigated. TIP 2: It is possible to identify one or more causes of these symptoms. This process involves skin tests, simple dietary changes or blood tests for allergy antibodies. TIP 3: In most cases, the allergen(s) can be avoided or preventative measures can be used. TIP 4: If the offending items are more than one, as is the case with food intolerance, or too difficult to avoid, as with pollen allergy, safe, low-dose methods of desensitisation can be used to enhance a better immunity to these items. Contact us about this condition

Specialist tips and notes

  1. Life threatening allergies are uncommon causes of angio-oedema but on the increase; it is important they are properly investigated.
  2. It is possible to identify one or more causes of these symptoms. This process involves skin tests, simple dietary changes or blood tests for allergy antibodies.
  3. In most cases, the allergen(s) can be avoided or preventative measures can be used.
  4. If the offending items are more than one, as is the case with food intolerance, or too difficult to avoid, as with pollen allergy, safe, low-dose methods of desensitisation can be used to enhance a better immunity to these items.