What are the Differences and Similarities Between Hives and Angioedema?
It doesn’t matter if you are suffering from hives or angioedema, neither one is a pleasant experience. Many patients feel desperate and hopeless. However, if you learn the basics of these diseases and how to treat them properly, you can make your life much easier.
Let us first consider the differences: angioedema is deep inside the skin and usually not visible with naked eye, whereas hives are on the dermis or upper layer of the skin. Hives rashes are itchy while angioedema swelling is not itchy, but can be painful in some cases.
Angioedema can be lethal, but hives do not threaten the patient’s life. As far as the similarities are concerned, both of these diseases have pretty similar triggers and causes e.g. allergies, pressure, stress, extreme temperatures as well as similar treatment
Do read my next post equating dermographism and angioedema which will be here in the upcoming week.
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What are the Steps To Follow When Angioedema Swelling Becomes Intolerable?
As promised earlier, today’s post is about some simple steps which can be helpful when battling angioedema. Usually angioedema swelling is painless, but when it is painful it can be literally intolerable. Let us see what steps can help reduce the pain.
If you are in the middle of angioedema treatment, but the swelling is getting out of control, try to cool down the affected area and if there is difficulty in breathing, go out in the open, fresh air and take large slow breaths. You may take H1 antagonists with antihistamines. In case of acquired angioedema, epinephrine has proven itself to be a lifesaving drug.
Everyone wants to learn the similarities and differences between two analogous diseases; the post next week will explain the comparison between hives and urticaria, a must read for patients.
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Learning about Angioedema Swelling & the Angioedema Rash?
Are you having itch-less swelling around your eyes, lips or any other part of body? Well, it is quite possible that it might be angioedema swelling usually caused by what some people call an angioedema rash.
Swelling is the most common and obvious symptom of angioedema, a weird skin problem which can even threaten the life of the patient.Even though this swelling is painless, it usually vanishes within a few hours without any treatment. If it progresses quickly, especially on the tongue, throat or upper airway, it may cause suffocation so it should be treated as a medical emergency.
To read more about angioedema swelling & angioedema rash, read here.
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Angioedema swelling is the main symptom of angioedema and also differentiates it from hives (urticaria). On the other hand angioedema rash is not very common while rashes are more commonly found on the skin of the patient suffering from hives.
Angioedema, also known as Quincke edema, is the hasty swelling of the skin resulted by the swelling of dermis, and submucosal tissues. Usually the angioedema swelling lasts a few hours after the outbreak and does not threaten the life of the patient. However, if the swelling progresses rapidly in the upper airway, tongue or throat it can block the airway and cause suffocation hence, should be treated as a medical emergency. Epinephrine is a life saving drug in case of acquired angioedema but it is not very effective in familial angioedema.
Angioedema swelling does not cause itchiness like the hives, however, it might cause a burning sensation in some cases. You can do certain things to reduce the swelling and the subsequent burning. The foremost thing is to avoid the triggers and allergens that cause swelling. Cooling down the affected area also helps. Ingestion of antihistamines also reduces the swelling by counter-affecting the histamine release or the allergies. However, if you are looking for a permanent cure for you skin problem you should consult a qualified doctor.
Usually the angioedema swelling appears around the eyes and lips but it can outbreak anywhere on the body including hands, feet, arms etc. In severer cases the swelling appears on the tongue and in the throat. For individuals who are suffering from angioedema, triggers can lead to recurring or chronic angioedema i.e. the swelling may reappear after disappearing for a while. Several triggers can result in angioedema including ecological factors and allergies, some food items, underlying diseases, and some physical factors, along with others. Taking certain drugs may also result in angioedema swelling.
