Duration of Quincke’s edema | The Quincke edema

Duration of Quincke’s edema

Quincke’s edema develops acutely over a few seconds to minutes. With immediate therapy, it usually subsides within a few minutes. It is therefore an acute event overall. However, hereditary or idiopathic Quincke’s edema in particular can occur repeatedly and therefore lead to chronic recurrence, whereas allergic Quincke’s edema can be prevented by avoiding the allergen.

Diagnosis of Quincke’s edema

The diagnosis of Quincke’s edema is usually a gaze diagnosis.This means that the diagnosis can be inferred from the characteristic appearance of the clinical picture. The cause, on the other hand, for example an allergic reaction, must be more closely defined by a detailed anamnesis and further diagnostics. Medications taken, distorted food or known allergies of the person affected can provide information about the underlying cause.

If Quincke’s edema has already occurred several times in a family, it could be a hereditary form of Quincke’s edema. Blood tests can include allergy tests, the search for infections and the determination of various hormones, proteins and enzymes. If hereditary Quincke’s edema is suspected, the complement factor C4 in the blood can be determined, which is typically decreased.

What always belongs in an emergency set that I should have with me?

People who have already suffered from allergic Quincke’s edema should carry an emergency kit with them. This contains medication that can be used in case of an allergic reaction. This usually includes an adrenaline autoinjector, an H1 antihistamine and a glucocorticoid.

In patients with asthma, there is also an inhaler with a so-called beta-2 mimetic. The adrenaline autoinjector contains 300 micrograms of adrenaline for patients weighing over 30 kg, which must be injected into the muscle. The H1 antihistamine is usually contained in drop form, as it can be easily swallowed in an emergency.

The glucocorticoid can be added as a tablet or rectal suppository. The patient is instructed in detail by the attending physician on how to use the emergency set. Patients who can safely avoid the allergen in question do not necessarily need an emergency kit.