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Home /
Quick Facts: Immune Disorders /
Allergic Reactions and Other Hypersensitivity Disorders /
... /
Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema /
IN THIS TOPIC

What are hereditary and acquired angioedema?

What causes hereditary or acquired angioedema?

What can trigger an attack of angioedema?

What are the symptoms of hereditary and acquired angioedema?

How can doctors tell if I have hereditary or acquired angioedema?

How do doctors treat hereditary and acquired angioedema?

Blocked airway treatment

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Allergic Reactions and Other Hypersensitivity Disorders
Overview of Allergic Reactions
Anaphylactic Reactions
Angioedema
Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema
Autoimmune Diseases
Exercise-Induced Allergic Reactions
Food Allergy
Mastocytosis
Seasonal Allergy
Year-Round Allergies

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Quick Facts

Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Jan 2021| Content last modified Jan 2021
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Topic Resources

What are hereditary and acquired angioedema?

Angioedema is swelling of your face, lips, tongue, and throat that is usually caused by an allergic reaction. But angioedema can also be caused by a certain problem with your immune system.

  • Hereditary angioedema is an immune system problem you're born with

  • Acquired angioedema is an immune system problem caused by another illness or condition

Hereditary and acquired angioedema are like angioedema caused by an allergic reaction, but they don't itch and you don't get hives (red, itchy, raised patches on the skin).

  • Your lips, tongue, and throat may swell, which can cause trouble breathing

  • You may feel sick to your stomach and throw up

  • Doctors can use medicines to treat and prevent the swelling

What causes hereditary or acquired angioedema?

Hereditary angioedema is genetic (a trait inherited from a parent). The condition is present at birth, but symptoms usually start when you’re a child or teenager.

Acquired angioedema can develop after you get certain cancers or autoimmune diseases (a disease that causes your body's immune system to attack its own tissues). Symptoms usually start later in life.

What can trigger an attack of angioedema?

In both hereditary and acquired angioedema, swelling may be triggered by:

  • Minor injury

  • Infection

  • Certain foods

  • Pregnancy

  • Cold

  • Stress

What are the symptoms of hereditary and acquired angioedema?

Symptoms can include painful swelling in your:

  • Face

  • Lips

  • Tongue

  • Hands

  • Feet

  • Genitals

  • Lining of your mouth, throat, airways, and digestive tract

Other symptoms include:

  • Feeling sick to your stomach

  • Throwing up

  • Cramps

Swelling in the voice box, throat, or tongue can cause breathing problems.

How can doctors tell if I have hereditary or acquired angioedema?

Doctors suspect hereditary or acquired angioedema if you have swelling but no hives. To know for sure, they'll do:

  • Blood tests

How do doctors treat hereditary and acquired angioedema?

Doctors treat you with:

  • Medicine that helps your immune system

Doctors may also give you medicines to prevent swelling, particularly before known triggers.

Blocked airway treatment

If your airway swells and you have problems breathing, doctors will need to open your airway. To do this, they may:

  • Give you a shot to lessen swelling

  • Put in a breathing tube through your nose or mouth

  • If there is too much swelling around the nose and mouth, put in a breathing tube by cutting into the skin over your windpipe

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© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
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