Allergic arthritis is a benign inflammatory pathology that affects the joints. The root cause is an allergy to a particular antigen.
Sometimes allergic swelling forms on a person’s legs. This pathological condition is also called allergic arthritis. Often this symptom is a consequence of various joint pathologies, but sometimes it can be triggered by Quincke's edema or another allergic reaction.
This is accompanied by swelling of the legs, which is caused by allergies, severe pain and changes in the skin. In order to relieve swelling, it is recommended to take an antiallergic drug.
A qualified specialist will tell you what kind of medicine you need to take in order to remove swelling of the legs caused by allergies. Then the doctor must prescribe appropriate treatment for the patient.
People suffering from allergies cannot help but be interested in the question of whether their legs may swell. The answer is clear: they can. A peculiar manifestation of general allergies is a specific form of arthritis. Most often children can get sick. Also, the legs can swell in people of any age who are prone to allergies.
Many people confuse this anomaly with the infectious-allergic form. It is important to remember that these are completely different diseases. The main impetus for the development of this pathology is an excess of harmful agents, antibodies and immune elements in the joint tissues.
Swelling of the legs due to an allergic reaction in a child or an adult can occur for a variety of reasons.
In a word, allergic swelling in the legs of both a child and an adult is often provoked by a sharp change in the immune system.
Allergic arthritis, the main manifestation of which is swelling of the legs, progresses immediately after contact with the allergen. Often, especially after repeated exposure to the “aggressor drug,” a reaction occurs on the seventh to tenth day.
Another sign of the disease is painful syndrome. The pain can affect either one joint or several at once.
Most often, painful sensations can occur after a long stay in a monotonous, often uncomfortable position. Painful sensations can intensify due to physical activity, carrying heavy objects and gaining extra pounds.
The disease occurs in 2 main forms: rapidly reversible and protracted. The rapidly reversible form of the abnormal condition is characterized by the following symptoms:
This form of the pathological condition is characterized by the presence of other allergic symptoms, including urticaria, Quincke's edema and bronchial asthma.
Treating this form of anomaly is quite simple: according to doctors, all alarming symptoms will disappear after eliminating the allergen. Treatment also involves anti-allergic therapeutic procedures. It is important to remember that if you are repeatedly exposed to the allergen, the body's reaction may be even more severe.
A protracted form of the abnormal condition is much less common. About four percent of patients are people suffering from an allergic reaction provoked by contact with a particular drug.
This form is characterized by a long and very severe course. Swelling in the legs can be significant, and the pain can be so severe that a person is forced to take strong painkillers. Sometimes a painful condition must be treated with glucocorticoids.
In the most severe situations, the following symptoms are observed:
When swelling in the legs appears against the background of a severe allergic reaction, treatment of the pathological condition should be immediate. It is important to understand that self-diagnosis and self-administration of potent drugs, as well as uncontrolled use of folk remedies are fraught with negative consequences.
Treatment of both children and adults is carried out according to a certain scheme.
It is important to remember that analgesic drugs should never be taken on an empty stomach. Otherwise, irritation of the mucous membrane will occur and the patient’s condition will only worsen.
Treatment for an acute allergic reaction, the appearance of Quincke's edema and damage to the respiratory organs involves emergency treatment. When an adult or child shows dangerous signs of a complication, it is necessary to call an ambulance as quickly as possible.
In this case, it is necessary to relieve swelling and other symptoms of allergic arthritis after the danger of death has been stopped.
Despite the fact that an abnormal condition provoked by an allergic reaction is a threatening warning from the body and requires prompt intervention, it is treated quite simply. According to doctors, alarming symptoms disappear quickly if the intervention was timely. If the therapy was correct, then there is no need for additional treatment methods, such as exercise therapy, physiotherapy and massage procedures.
Allergic arthritis, especially if it occurs suddenly, can be frightening for many. But the prognosis after therapeutic manipulations is generally favorable. This is explained by the fact that the pathology often occurs in an acute form. It is enough for a person to just see the swelling, and, guided by the instinct of self-preservation, he begins to sound the alarm and take the necessary measures. Thanks to timely intervention, the signs of a terrible disease are quickly stopped.
When the abnormal condition is subacute, the prognosis is usually much grimmer. But if the patient takes anti-inflammatory measures in a timely manner, then irreversible consequences can also be avoided.
The goal of preventive measures is to prevent repeated contact of the allergen with the body. Both a child and an adult at risk should be regularly examined by an immunologist or allergist. It is also recommended to carefully monitor your diet and, if necessary, radically change your lifestyle.
This pathology was first described by the German physician Heinrich Quincke in 1882 and a little later received the name of this doctor.
The pathology is a life-threatening condition, so it is important to clearly know what angioedema is.
Another name for Quincke's edema is angioedema. Most often, this is a systemic severe allergy, the main manifestation of which is severe swelling of various parts of the body.
In the process of edema formation, not only the skin is involved, but also the mucous membrane and subcutaneous fat.
Most often, edema in this pathology is localized on the limbs or face, but if the edema is very severe, the organs and joints of the human body may also undergo changes.
The extreme and most dangerous case is cerebral edema.
The disease can occur in any person, but those at particular risk are those who already have a history of allergic reactions to anything.
It is also worth keeping in mind that young girls and children are more susceptible to angioedema than men and older people.
There are two main types of angioedema, namely hereditary and acquired. The division of the disease into these two groups occurs precisely due to the difference in the factors that provoke exacerbation.
If we are talking about the acquired form, then the factors contributing to its development are usually the following:
If we are talking about a hereditary disease, then it is a matter of genes.
What both types of edema have in common is that they are based on a pathology of the immune system, expressed in its excessive reaction to certain foreign substances.
Sometimes the cause of the edema cannot be fully established, and in this case the patient is exposed to even greater danger, since neither he himself nor his relatives can predict when to expect the next attack.
It is difficult to miss even the early symptoms of Quincke's edema.
This is primarily due to the fact that the main pathological mechanism is based on the formation of edema, which usually immediately catches the eye of people around.
The face is most often affected by pathology due to angioedema. Mostly, a person's lips, eyelids, and ears are affected.
It becomes clearly visible that one or both lips have increased in size and have become completely disproportionate to the rest of the face.
Typically, swelling of the lips is not accompanied by itching, but can cause a lot of discomfort and interfere with normal speech. Lips can also change shade, even purple.
Photo: Manifestation on lips
Swelling affecting the larynx and other organs in the neck area poses the greatest danger. In this case, the tip of the tongue or its root is also often involved in the pathological process.
If swelling of the larynx is not stopped in time, a person may first feel a lack of air, and then experience an attack of suffocation.
In this case, deaths often occur when help is not provided on time and the person suffocates.
Photo: Manifestation on the larynx
Since angioedema is characterized not only by damage to the skin, but also by damage to the mucous membranes, a person may develop swelling of the ocular mucosa.
In this case, swelling is also clearly visible visually in the form of narrowed palpebral fissures.
The patient himself, suffering from swelling of the eye mucosa, may also complain of:
Typically, a person’s vision returns to full extent as soon as the swelling is removed. The eyelids are often involved in the pathological process.
Photo: Manifestations before the eyes
In severe cases, symptoms may affect not only the face and limbs, but also internal organs.
Angioedema can be divided into two large groups:
If we are talking about an allergic form, then its cause is very obvious - contact with any allergen. Most often, this type of pathology develops in response to contact with a food allergen.
If we are talking about a non-allergic form, then the reason for its formation is somewhat different - it is a hereditary increased immunological reaction to certain substances.
If Quincke's edema is non-allergic in nature, then a person often suffers from relapses of this disease throughout his life.
What should be the treatment for atopic dermatitis? The answer is here.
Quincke's edema among children is a very common pathology and has a number of very characteristic features:
To the touch, the swelling has a uniform consistency, it is quite dense, but can still be pressed with a finger, after which a characteristic dent remains.
Also, in many children, the formation of Quincke's edema does not occur without the development of urticaria. It appears in about half a percent of cases and can cause severe itching.
The most dangerous type of edema in children is considered to be that which affects the larynx or throat.
It is important for adults to keep in mind that angioedema in children progresses much faster than in adults and, if something happens, do not hesitate and call an ambulance.
Children even experience cutaneous Quincke's edema more acutely. In them, this pathology may also be accompanied by increased excitability, temperature fluctuations, and also develop into short-term episodes of loss of consciousness.
Most often in children, angioedema develops in response to contact with the following things:
Photo: Manifestations of symptoms in a child
The first thing to do if a child or adult has a suspicion of developing Quincke's edema is to call an ambulance.
Then they perform a number of measures that are first aid and help the patient wait for the doctors to arrive:
Following these simple recommendations will help, if not relieve swelling at home on your own, then at least hold out the patient until the ambulance arrives.
It is worth remembering that even if the swelling subsided before the ambulance arrived on its own, the patient still needs hospitalization in a hospital.
What are the symptoms of atopic dermatitis? Read more.
Is it possible to eat foods that cause allergies? Details here.
People who suffer from a predisposition to the development of this pathology should adhere to a number of simple rules in order to minimize the risk of edema.
Basic recommendations that will help prevent angioedema include:
In general, with competent first aid and timely consultation with a doctor, the prognosis for such a serious disease as Quincke's edema is favorable.
Acute allergic reactions in children require immediate treatment. Any delay in providing assistance can lead to the most life-threatening consequences. One of these conditions is considered to be Quincke's edema.
An acute allergic reaction, in which severe swelling of the tissues appears on the face and upper half of the body, is called Quincke's edema. Doctors may also call this pathological condition angioedema. This pathology is associated with a violent response of the immune system to the penetration of a foreign allergen into the body. The development of Quincke's edema mainly occurs in people who have individual hypersensitivity to some provoking allergens.
This pathological condition can develop at any age: both in newborns and adults. There are familial cases of Quincke's edema.
They are caused by the presence of a genetic defect in the structure of the gene encoding one of the components of immune defense - C1 - inhibitor. There may also be acquired forms of Quincke's edema. In this case, doctors are already talking about the presence of pseudo-hereditary angioedema.
According to statistics, the disease is extremely rare in infants. This pathological condition is registered only in 2-5% of cases in infants. However, Quincke's edema in very young children is usually quite severe. The structural features of a child's body and the imperfect functioning of the immune system lead to the fact that the immune response can be much stronger than in adults. This usually causes the child’s allergic reaction to start quickly after an allergen enters the body, and adverse symptoms occur within a few minutes.
A variety of causative factors can lead to the development of Quincke's edema. It is almost impossible to predict in which case and in which child this dangerous clinical condition will occur. It is important to note that children who are prone to allergic reactions or suffer from allergies are always at high risk.
The following reasons can cause angioedema in a child:
In some cases, the appearance of unfavorable symptoms can result from the consumption of familiar and familiar foods if the child has an individual intolerance to them.
There have been cases of severe allergic reactions in children even after applying face painting.
Clinical signs of this dangerous condition can be noticed immediately. Symptoms of Quincke's edema increase rapidly. The baby’s health is deteriorating before our eyes. A few minutes or hours after the allergen enters the child’s body, he develops adverse symptoms. Quincke's edema can develop at any time of the day, however, in some children it occurs only at night.
The body's pronounced immune response to an allergen is accompanied by the development of severe swelling. The looseness of subcutaneous fat in children and its good blood supply lead to the fact that symptoms develop rapidly. The child develops severe swelling of the throat and neck.
This leads to the baby having difficulty breathing. The child breathes much faster, which leads to shortness of breath.
To determine increased breathing, count the number of respiratory movements per minute. This can be done quite simply at home. Parents can do this simple test on their own. An increase in the number of breaths per minute of more than 20 indicates that the baby has shortness of breath . This symptom is extremely unfavorable and indicates that the body does not have enough oxygen, and hypoxia (oxygen starvation of tissues) may soon occur.
Quincke's edema manifests itself as characteristic changes on the face. It becomes puffy, and in severe cases it completely swells. The palpebral fissures narrow, which causes the baby to have blurred vision and double vision when viewing nearby specimens. Severe swelling of the facial tissues extends to the neck. This symptom becomes visible even from the outside.
Pronounced changes occur in the oral cavity: the tongue swells and increases in size, the palatine tonsils swell . It is important to note that with Quincke's edema there is no plaque in the oral cavity. The absence of this sign helps doctors differentiate a dangerous allergic condition from common childhood quarantine infections. It becomes very difficult for the baby to swallow. In severe cases, the baby is unable to even swallow water.
Despite the allergic nature of this pathological condition, the child does not have itchy skin. In some cases, swelling in the legs is also observed. This mainly occurs in children with varicose veins of the lower extremities or cardiovascular diseases. Severe impairment of the respiratory function of the lungs can lead to the development of asphyxia - respiratory arrest.
Severe swelling of the larynx and lower parts of the oropharynx leads to the fact that the child begins to wheeze, the timbre of the voice becomes low and hoarse. In some cases, the baby cannot speak at all and even cry out. A change in voice timbre during crying is a characteristic symptom of Quincke's edema in newborns and infants.
The severe course of this clinical condition can lead to the spread of edema to the brain area. This contributes to the occurrence of epileptic seizures in the baby. Usually they are expressed insignificantly, but they lead parents to real horror.
This pathological condition requires emergency hospitalization of the baby in a hospital. It is unacceptable to carry out treatment at home in such a situation!
According to historical data, Quincke's edema was first described in 1576 by Marcello Donati. However, the term angioedema was introduced in 1882 by Henrik Quincke, whose name this condition still bears.
However, it was only in 1964 that chemicals that provoked the development of a pathological reaction were identified. Since then, the possibility of targeted pathogenetic treatment has emerged.
Quincke's edema is one of the most difficult problems of allergology - this is explained by the high prevalence of this pathology. Thus, its frequency in combination with urticaria is 49% of all allergic reactions, and isolated Quincke's edema is observed in 11% of cases.
Quincke's edema photo 1
Moreover, the highest prevalence is observed in people of working age. It is worth noting that in 2% of cases, angioedema can be hereditary, associated with a certain pathological complement reaction (a certain part of the immune system that normally protects a person from pathogenic microorganisms).
Quincke's edema is a condition in which swelling of the skin and subcutaneous fat occurs. At the same time, this can be combined with swelling of the mucous membranes. Therefore, the respiratory, urinary, digestive and nervous systems may be affected, which leads to the appearance of corresponding symptoms (see photo).
Quincke's edema is characterized by some features of symptoms:
Clinical signs of angioedema appear after contact with allergens; various substances can play their role ( see the list at the bottom of the article ).
However, regardless of the causative factor, allergic edema and urticaria develop due to increased production of histamine in the body. This is confirmed by the following facts:
swelling and skin manifestations
Allergic angioedema can be of 2 main types:
Symptoms of Quinet's edema have the following features:
Quincke's edema, photo, tongue - a very dangerous condition
Symptoms in adults with Quincke's edema in the larynx, as a variant of angioedema, are life-threatening. Death occurs due to suffocation.
With swelling of the larynx, the characteristic first signs are a cough and a hoarse voice; as it develops, noisy breathing and symptoms of suffocation appear.
When the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines swells, characteristic symptoms appear - nausea, vomiting, spasmodic abdominal pain.
In some cases, rare forms of Quincke's edema may occur, their symptoms:
1) Recurrent, combined with hypereosinophilia. In this condition, the number of eosinophils is several times higher than the norm for a given age period, and leukocytes and the level of antibodies directed against the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) are also increased.
Clinically, an elevated temperature of up to 40°C and an allergic skin rash are detected.
2) A hereditary form of angioedema, which is transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner. Edema of various localizations appears occasionally. This disease is characterized by a genetic deficiency of a protein that inhibits complement activation.
The disease first appears before the age of 20 years. Before this period, there are no clinical symptoms. The main danger of the hereditary form is the increased risk of death, which is observed in 35% of patients. Therefore, all relatives are subject to examination.
3) The acquired form of angioedema is more common in elderly patients and is associated with lymphoproliferative diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus and viral hepatitis.
Hereditary forms of allergies can be of three main types:
The hereditary form of angioedema is characterized by the following features:
signs of Quincke's edema in children, photos
The symptoms of Quincke's edema in children are somewhat different from adults - this requires extreme care from parents. The appearance of any suspicious symptoms should be a reason to consult a doctor.
Features of edema in childhood are:
Very often, Quincke's edema in a child is accompanied by damage to the larynx. This is fraught with fatal suffocation if help is not provided in time.
First aid for Quincke's edema includes the following measures:
If a person’s Quincke’s edema recurs, then he already has specially prepared syringes with adrenaline and a hormonal drug. They are produced by the pharmaceutical industry.
The primary direction in the treatment of angioedema and anaphylactic shock is occupied by second-generation antihistamines. Their effectiveness is due to the suppression of histamine synthesis and its action with receptors. An additional effect is anti-inflammatory.
Representatives of first generation antihistamines are:
However, the second generation of drugs for the treatment of Quincke's edema is preferable, it includes:
At the same time, it is recommended to create a hypoallergenic lifestyle:
Symptoms and treatment of angioedema directly depend on nutrition - therefore, a hypoallergenic diet is recommended. Its main principles are:
The most dangerous complication of Quincke's edema is swelling of the larynx, leading to asphyxia. As a result, acute respiratory failure can be fatal if not treated promptly. Other complications of angioedema include:
Among food products, the most dangerous are: fish, eggs, milk, chicken, beef, apples, nuts, pork, honey, carrots, stone fruits
citrus fruits, melon, smoked meats, various food additives and soy products.
Medicines can also be strong allergens. In this regard, the greatest danger is posed by:
The venom of bees, wasps and hornets also has strong allergenic properties. Some infections are comparable in strength to it:
Some autoimmune diseases and parasitic infestations can also cause angioedema:
Among the physical factors there are also provocateurs of allergic reactions:
The only preventive measure is to avoid contact with a possible allergen. Therefore, a thorough examination by an allergist is required to identify the causative factor.
Such patients should be careful in their diet and lifestyle in general.
Angioedema (Quincke's edema) is a type of allergic reaction of the human body, as a result of which swelling of the face, neck, upper respiratory tract and, less commonly, extremities develops. The pathological process itself occurs in the subcutaneous fatty tissue and mucous membranes. This condition is very dangerous and, in the absence of timely medical care, can lead to the death of the patient.
Quincke's edema develops as a result of allergens entering the body, under the influence of which the permeability of the vascular wall to plasma and other blood cells increases. From the blood vessels, plasma and blood elements migrate to adjacent tissues and subcutaneous fat, resulting in severe edema.
According to statistics, an allergic reaction in the form of angioedema most often develops in people with a history of allergies or in people who are hereditarily predisposed to allergies. Predisposing and provoking factors for such a reaction of the body are:
Already from the name of the reaction it is clear that the first and most basic symptom of this type of allergy is the immediate manifestation of swelling. Swelling can be asymmetrical, spreading only to one half of the face or the entire face, neck, and upper limbs.
When swelling spreads to internal organs, sudden signs of dysfunction appear:
In this case, the patient’s skin becomes pale, the tips of the fingers, nose, and earlobes acquire a bluish tint.
The development of angioedema can be divided into three stages:
In the absence of immediate medical attention, swelling spreads to the larynx, which can result in death.
First of all, it is very important to determine what exactly caused the development of angioedema and immediately stop the patient’s contact with the allergen. To prevent such a reaction in the future, the doctor collects a thorough history of the patient’s life, in particular the presence of allergic diseases in the family and individual intolerance to any medications, products, etc.
To determine the allergen, the patient is prescribed a blood test and diagnostic skin allergy tests.
With the development of acute angioedema, first aid is primarily aimed at restoring oxygen access to the patient’s body, after which symptomatic therapy is carried out:
After the disappearance of the acute clinical picture, to reduce intoxication of the body by allergens, it is advisable to prescribe enterosorbents internally.
Knowing the rules of first aid for angioedema can save a person’s life, but all actions should be carried out after calling a doctor!
Mild form of angioedema
Severe form of edema
Urticaria and angioedema can occur simultaneously
Angioedema on the arm (peripheral)
Angioedema is one of the types of allergic diseases of the body to the invasion of allergenic substances. It is characterized by deep skin damage and swelling in the neck, head, limbs of the arms, legs, genitals, as well as the abdominal cavity. It can develop at any age, at any time in children and adults with a predisposition to allergies.
Angioedema is similar in nature to urticaria. Only urticaria affects the upper layers of the skin, and angioedema penetrates into the subcutaneous fat. In medical terminology, there are also synonyms for this disease: Quincke's edema, Quincke's disease.
Allergens that cause angioedema are found everywhere. Reasons may include:
There are cases when an allergic reaction occurs as a result of physical factors of nature: cold, sun, excessive heat, water, frost.
Quincke's edema is an immediate reaction. Therefore, the symptoms of the disease are noticeable on the human body within a few minutes after contact with the allergenic substance. With angioedema, urticaria may also develop concomitantly.
The localization of lesions is clearly expressed in those places where fatty tissue is most concentrated on the body. In the crotches of the legs are the external genitalia. On the face – these are lips, eyelids. In the area of the larynx - the soft palate, mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. In the latter case, there is a risk of developing natural suffocation.
The occurrence of Quincke's edema in infants is especially dangerous. If angioedema develops in the respiratory tract, the child develops hoarseness, barking cough, and heavy breathing. The integument of the body acquires a bluish tint and after a certain period of time becomes pale.
If you do not provide emergency medical care to an allergic person at these moments, the consequences can be sad and irreversible. The main clinical manifestations can be seen in the photo.
With such angioedema, the development of anaphylactic shock, which is accompanied by the following symptoms, cannot be excluded:
The diagnosis of “angioedema” is confirmed by the doctor after a conversation with the patient and a visual examination. Particular attention is paid to collecting anamnesis, and, if necessary, studying the medical history of close relatives. Such measures are necessary in order to detect the allergen that caused the disease. The qualifications of the doctor are of no small importance during the examination.
Diagnostic plans include questions about the diet, including the foods the person eats, medications, insect bites, etc.
General tests of urine, blood, feces, as well as a biochemical study of the patient’s blood, ultrasound of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, pelvis, thyroid gland, and chest x-ray are prescribed.
Unfortunately, even modern research methods are not always effective in establishing the cause of angioedema. In this case, it is considered idiopathic.
Treatment should be immediate and consists of the following:
After relieving an attack of angioedema, the patient is prescribed a hypoallergenic diet for a long time. It is recommended to eat only soft foods so as not to further injure the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and intestines.
An effective way of prevention for all allergy sufferers suffering from angioedema is to prevent the allergen from entering the body. On the recommendation of a doctor, you can undergo annual injections of ASIT (immunotherapy) or take ACE inhibitors, which to some extent block the production of histamine in the body.
Information about allergic diseases:
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