Angioedema

Alternative names:

angioneurotic edema; swelling - eyes

Definition:

The development of large welts below the surface of the skin, especially around the eyes and lips. The welts may also affect the hands, feet, and throat. The condition is associated with allergies and histamine release.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Angioedema is a swelling similar to urticaria (hives), but the swelling is beneath the skin rather than on the surface. There seems to be a hereditary tendency toward the development of both angioedema and hives (see hereditary angioedema). Angioedema is associated with the release of histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream, which is part of the allergic response.

Common allergens include:

• medications
• foods (such as berries, shellfish, fish, nuts, eggs, milk, and others)
• pollen
• animal dander (scales of shed skin)
• insect bites
• exposure to water, sunlight, cold or heat
• emotional stress

Hives and angioedema may also occur after infections or illness (including autoimmune disorders, leukemia, and others).