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Symptoms of Angioedema
Angioedema is the swelling up of large raised bumps (also called welts or wheals) below the surface of the skin. These swellings most often affect the hands, feet, tongue, throat, or genitals. They usually appear quite suddenly, in the deep layers of the skin, and are much more severe than normal hives or urticaria. There is usually also swelling (puffiness) around the eyes and lips. These symptoms usually last between 48 and 72 hours.
As well as visible swellings, angioedema can cause some or all of the following symptoms:
- Burning hot or painful feeling in the swollen areas;
- Abdominal pain, caused by swelling in the digestive system (stomach and intestines), sometimes also with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea;
- Swelling of the voicebox or the air tubes in the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing;
- Swelling of the conjunctiva (part of the eye).
The swellings are not itchy themselves; however, itchy surface swellings called hives or urticaria often happen at the same time as angioedema, as part of the same allergic reaction.
