Angioedema (Quincke’s edema)

Angio­ede­ma is a swel­ling of the sub­cu­ta­neous tis­sue that can occur sud­den­ly – some­ti­mes tog­e­ther with hives and itching. The­re are many cau­ses, e.g. all­er­gic reac­tions or medi­ca­ti­on-rela­ted; tre­at­ment the­r­e­fo­re depends on the trigger.

It beco­mes cri­ti­cal if the air­ways are affec­ted, as the­re may then be a risk of suf­fo­ca­ti­on. Imme­dia­te medi­cal assis­tance is requi­red in the event of swel­ling of the face, tongue/throat or short­ness of breath.