Edema of the throat with allergies - possible causes and treatment features

With an allergy, a person is tormented by many unpleasant symptoms, one of them is swelling of the throat. This sign is considered dangerous, since it threatens a person's life. This phenomenon occurs when an allergic substance is exposed to the body. The causes and treatment of throat edema with allergies are described in the article.

Why does throat swelling appear?

With symptomatic repetitions of edema, a detailed diagnosis of the human condition is required. You also need to know about the methods for eliminating pathology. This phenomenon can be not only with allergies. Throat edema may occur due to:

• diseases of the oral cavity;
• purulent tonsillitis;
• phlegm laryngitis;
• epiglottis abscess;
• purulent inflammation of the tongue root;
• heart disease, blood vessels;
• diseases of the kidneys, liver;
• allergic reactions;
• circulatory problems in the larynx;
• pathological proliferation of lymphatic tissue;
• injuries of the throat, back wall and adjacent parts;
• cancerous growths;
• postoperative period;
• infectious ailments;
• severe hypothermia;
• poisoning with toxic components.

In babies, this condition is acute, complex and dangerous. With allergies , a child has throat edema for the same reasons as in adults. Due to the characteristics of the respiratory system, children have a weak muscle of the respiratory system, their passage is narrowed, and the mucous membrane is sensitive even to minor irritants.

Even if the swelling is small, only 1 mm, the lumen in the larynx is reduced by 2 times. This leads to shortness of breath and inability to breathe. There are many causes of this disorder, including infections, eating hot food, trauma, allergies, and Quincke's edema. Whatever leads to swelling of the throat, it causes discomfort. A person needs first aid, after which the doctor must conduct a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Allergic laryngeal edema

This process is non-inflammatory, it appears unexpectedly and develops quickly, it is considered dangerous for any person. In several minutes there is a narrowing of the respiratory organs, which can lead to respiratory arrest. This symptom is considered dangerous in young children, as it can lead to suffocation.

The disorder appears due to:

• taking medications, especially intravenously and intramuscularly;
• eating foods that are intolerant to - fish, nuts, eggs;
• contact with chemicals;
• cold allergies;
• insect bites;
• home tick;
• dust
• fungi and mold;
• pet hair.

Antihistamines or tablets should be carried if allergies have been identified previously. This requirement is important to observe with frequent swelling of the nasal mucosa and throat.

How is it manifested?

Symptoms of throat edema with allergies are presented in the form:

• inflammation, swelling, redness of the soft palate, tonsils, tongue;
• difficult performing inhalation and exhalation;
• increased breathing, as a person cannot inhale the right amount of air;
• the appearance of mild shortness of breath.

If the cause is not allergy, the condition worsens rather slowly. But, all the same, delivery of a person to the hospital is required, where qualified assistance will be provided. A serious danger to life is allergy, which quickly flows into stage 2. What does swelling of the throat look like with allergies in this case? This condition manifests itself in the form:

• pain when swallowing;
• hoarseness and deafness of the throat;
• lack of air, including a symptom of suffocation;
• dryness and sore throat;
• sensation of a foreign body in the larynx, hoarseness of voice;
• barking cough;
• increased pulse, the appearance of shortness of breath;
• pallor of the skin, cyanosis;
• active sweating;
• difficulty breathing
• staining of the mucous membranes in blue;
• a slight increase in body temperature;
• panic sick.

In complex cases, laryngeal edema develops into Quincke edema, when a severe swelling of the face and neck appears. There may be an attack of suffocation. Due to stenosis of the larynx, the patient loses consciousness and does not return to normal until emergency care is provided.

Diagnostics

To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor performs several diagnostic procedures. They consist of:

1. Laryngoscopy, in which an examination of the larynx is performed. A special tube, at the end of which a miniature boat is fixed, carries out the necessary examination.
2. Analysis on lgE.
3. General analysis for allergy tests.
4. Biopsies to examine the inflamed tissue of the larynx.

When should I see a doctor?

The patient should be alert even with minor allergy symptoms. Do not ignore breathing problems, and if swelling and shortness of breath often appear. You must consult a doctor even after first aid.

If there is a predisposition to allergies, then you need to carefully monitor your health. You must have first aid equipment in your first-aid kit. An allergist should be visited 2 times a year. It is recommended to take the remedies prescribed for prevention. This will help prevent allergic laryngitis.

First aid

If there is a swelling of the throat with allergies, what should I do? First you need to call an ambulance, and during this time take measures to eliminate the symptom:

1. The throat should be freed from clothing so that the respiratory organs work to the maximum.
2. If an external allergen is affected, then it is necessary to stop contact with it and remove the person to fresh air.
3. The patient can be dipped in a hot bath or, for starters, to do this with the upper or lower extremities, which greatly improves the condition.
4. A nasal spray (any vasoconstrictor drug) is dripped into the nose to facilitate breathing. If the attack is allergic, then anti-allergic drops are used.
5. How to quickly relieve swelling of the throat with allergies? If a family has a doctor, then an antihistamine should be administered intravenously. At home, Suprastin or Diphenhydramine is used.

If the swelling appeared from the poison of the insect, then you need to apply a tourniquet several centimeters above the lesion site. This will prevent toxins from spreading through the bloodstream. This procedure must be completed as soon as possible.

Treatment

How to cure allergic swelling of the throat? Therapy should be performed based on the origin of the ailment. But, due to the complexity of diagnosing the disease, even with a detailed examination, treatment is performed according to one algorithm:

1. The patient must be seated, and a reclining position is suitable. Then he needs to inject diuretics intravenously. With them, the accumulated excess fluid in the body is quickly eliminated. This group of funds includes "Furosemide", "Lasix".
2. How to relieve swelling of the throat with allergies? Be sure to take an antihistamine. The patient is offered “Zodak”, “Diazolin”, “Suprastin”, “Cetrizin”, “Zirtek”, “Tavegil”.
3. Antihypoxants and antioxidants are often prescribed. This is “Actovegin”, “Vixipin”, “Confumin”.
4. The patient should be warm, you can put mustard plasters on the calves. But do not apply cold or hot compresses to the throat. In both cases, there is a risk of worsening.
5. Treatment of throat edema with allergies is performed by inhalation with solutions of ephedrine, adrenaline, hydrocortisone. The exact dosage should be determined by your doctor.
6. If the problem arose from an infectious lesion, antibiotic therapy is needed. It includes drugs based on penicillin and streptomycin.
7. In difficult situations, a tracheotomy is performed, which is performed only by an experienced doctor.

Treatment of throat edema with allergies in a child is performed in the same way as in adults. It is only important to consult a doctor before starting therapy. During the rehabilitation period, it is necessary to treat the underlying ailment. It is necessary to follow a diet in which only liquid and semi-liquid foods are consumed. Food should have room temperature, not include spices and vinegar dressings.

Surgery

It also happens that a person’s condition becomes worse. In addition to the main symptoms, others may appear: nails, lips, the tip of the nose become bluish, cold sweat, tachycardia, lethargy or loss of consciousness. In this case, a surgical operation is performed - a tracheotomy.

The purpose of the operation is the formation of a temporary fistula of the tracheal cavity with the environment, and the tube is inserted into the trachea. The procedure should be performed by a doctor. But with Quincke's edema, which is developing rapidly, waiting for an ambulance can cost a person’s life. A simple solution to this problem is the introduction of several medical hollow thick needles into the larynx without incisions. This is necessary for breathing and saving a person’s life before the arrival of doctors.

Prevention

To prevent an allergic illness will turn out after limiting contact with the allergen. You should carefully read the instructions for all household items that are used, as well as the composition of the products. General strengthening of the body is necessary:

1. Proper nutrition remains important, therefore, foods rich in vitamins are included in the diet. It is necessary to observe a drinking regimen (at least 2 liters per day). Useful walks for half an hour a day in the fresh air. Stress and overwork should be avoided. You should choose for yourself simple exercises and perform them 3-4 times a week. You need to sleep at least 8 hours a day, since a healthy sleep strengthens the immune system. At least 2 times a week should be rest, doing what you love. Only positive emotions are needed.
2. If an allergic edema appears in a child, then there is a high probability that the disease will disappear with age, subject to a healthy lifestyle.
3. It is important to go to the allergist 2 times a year and drink the medications prescribed by him. With them, the probability of relapse is perfectly reduced.

Subject to these simple rules, it will be possible to prevent an exacerbation of allergic edema of the throat. This manifestation is not an independent ailment. This process is considered pathological and arises due to various reasons.

Hazards and consequences

The main danger of throat edema is its effect on respiratory function. With a narrowing of the lumen, breathing will be difficult, due to which acute oxygen starvation appears. The organs' working capacity decreases, therefore, the general condition of the patient worsens. In difficult cases, patients die from a lack of air.

With a severe allergic reaction, dangerous symptoms develop in a few minutes. This is usually observed with intramuscular or intravenous administration of drugs. Throat edema cannot be eliminated without medication. This is only possible if the cause of the problem is not a severe allergic reaction.

Conclusion

Refusal of therapy with the use of antihistamines can lead to sad consequences. It is also important to cure the underlying disease, if it is the cause of the pathology, this applies to diseases of the heart, kidneys, liver and infectious lesions. Only then will it be possible to eliminate such an unpleasant symptom as swelling of the throat.