Emergencies >>>> First aid for Quincke edema

First aid for Quincke edema.

Quincke edema occurs in places where there is subcutaneous tissue or mucous layer. Usually the place of spread of Quincke edema is the face (eyelids, lips), the oral cavity (tongue, tonsils, soft palate), upper respiratory tract (larynx, trachea, bronchi), ear mucosa, gastrointestinal tract, bladder. Perhaps involvement in the process of edema and the membranes of the brain.

Quincke edema most often occurs as a response to any type of allergens:

Medications
Food products
Biologically active additives
Cosmetical tools
Stinging insect venom
Latex products
Saliva, wool, animal dander

Quincke edema has developmental features:

acute onset of the process (15-20 minutes after exposure to the allergen),
rapid development of tissue edema,
often combined with urticaria,
when pressing on the swollen tissue at the point of pressing, there is no tissue sagging,
edema zones have a clear limitation from healthy skin,
edematous areas are located fixed, without displacement,
usually located asymmetrically (for example, one side of the face or lips swells ),
the skin may change color to pink, or may remain the same color.

Signs of the development of Quincke edema:

Swelling of the skin at a possible site of edema (swelling of the lips, nose, eyelids, ear)
Hoarse voice
Sore throat
Feeling of tension in the throat
Swelling of the tongue
Cough
Shortness of breath
Swallowing disorder
Nausea or vomiting, cramping abdominal pain (with swelling of the gastrointestinal tract)
Dysuria or anuria (with swelling of the bladder)
Dizziness, nausea, vomiting
Possible meningeal symptoms (with swelling of the mucous membrane of the inner ear or meninges) - rigidity of the occipital muscles, tone of the flexor muscles of the hip and knee joints

Quincke edema is dangerous because it can lead to the development of edema of the larynx or bronchi and thereby disrupt the breathing process, which means it will cause cardiac arrest, or a coma. In addition, Quincke's edema is often complicated by the development of anaphylactic shock, which can lead to lightning death. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly distribute actions before the arrival of an ambulance in order not to waste time.

The order of first aid for angioedema:

Stop contact with the suspected allergen (if possible)
Call an ambulance, or, if such a call is impossible, urgently begin transporting the victim to the nearest medical facility
Inject subcutaneously diphenhydramine (1% - 1ml), or suprastin (2% - 2ml), or pipolfen (2.5% - 1ml)
Inject subcutaneously epinephrine (0.1% - 0.5 ml)

In the absence of the listed drugs for injections on hand, it makes sense to take tablet forms (tavegil, or ketotifen, or suprastin, or diazolin, or another available antihistamine). It should be remembered that an injection drug will enter the bloodstream faster, which means it will begin to act faster. Be sure to inform the emergency doctor about the medication you have taken. If signs of swallowing disorder or choking appear, the pills are not taken, medications are administered intravenously.