Angioedema
The main symptom of angioedema is swelling that develops below the skin's surface.
Swelling caused by angioedema can develop suddenly or come on gradually over a few hours. It normally lasts a few days.
The swelling most often affects the:
In severe cases, the inside of the throator bowel can be affected.
Often,the swelling occurswith a raised, itchy rash called urticaria (hives) .
The rash will usually settle in a few days.
Otherwise, the skin over the swelling mayfeel tight and painful but look normal.
Less common symptoms of angioedema include:
See your GP if you have episodes of swelling that affect your skin or lips and you're not certain of the cause.
You may need to have some tests to determine the cause. .
Dial 999 for an ambulance if you, or someone with you, has swelling and:
These are signs of a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) .If you, or the person who's ill, have been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector for this, use it while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
Find out what angioedema is, what the symptoms are, why it happens and how it's treated.
Find our about the main symptoms of angioedema and when to get medical advice.
Find out about the main causes of angioedema, including allergies, medications and genetics.