Acute laryngeal edema

Acute laryngeal edema may be a consequence of laryngeal injury, infectious diseases, but most of all they develop on allergic background. Edema occurs when you are allergic to certain medications, for example penicillin, polopyrine and some sera. In children, this kind of condition can be a life-threatening condition.

Acute laryngeal edema - definition

Acute laryngeal edema is a disease characterized by the formation of fluid in the extracellular space of tissues of various anatomical fragments of the larynx (eg in the vocal folds). They may be a consequence of infectious diseases, systemic diseases or laryngeal trauma, however the most common reason is allergic basis. Laryngeal edema can also occur in people who are allergic to certain medications, for example penicillin or polopyrine. In children, it is a life-threatening condition. Treatment should be taken without delay in the hospital. Therefore, at the first symptoms, the patient should be transported to a laryngological ward.

Causes of acute laryngeal edema

The most common causes of acute laryngeal edema are:

• inflammation, e.g., epiglottis, abdominal cartilage of the larynx, laryngitis, acute laryngitis - they affect the formation of swelling of lesions, but also of neighboring structures;
• internal injuries, e.g. burns or the presence of a foreign body;
• external injuries, e.g. operations in the area of ​​the head and injuries due to accidents;
• sensitization to insect venom (bees, wasps), foods (eg eggs, milk) and medicines (eg antibiotics) - causes allergic reactions and thus laryngeal edema, which is the body's response to the mentioned factors.

Laryngeal edema and Quincke's edema

Quincke edema - it's basically a vasomorrhagic edema that appears because of immune disorders. This disease is divided into two types:

• acquired,
• innate.

The congenital form gives the first symptoms already in childhood, whereas the acquired symptoms are usually manifested in systemic diseases. Angioedema is caused by various physical factors, eg stress, cold, excessive physical activity. If the exact cause of the complaint is not fully known, idiopathic edema is mentioned.

Symptoms of acute laryngeal edema

Symptoms of acute laryngeal edema are:

•                    hoarseness or other sudden change of voice,

•                    barking cough (especially in children),

•                    increasing breathlessness when inhaling,

•                    feeling of a foreign body,

•                    increased body temperature,

•                    trouble swallowing,

•                    ache.

Warning! If you develop laryngeal dyspnoea, try to breathe calmly through the nose with closed, even "forceful" mouth. Breathing through the nose also facilitates the control of a strong cough and shortness of breath after choking with saliva or fluid.

Signs of angioedema are mainly swelling of subcutaneous tissue and mucous membranes, usually affecting eyelids, lips, torso, limbs, tongue, larynx and mouth.

Symptoms of allergic edema - may be local, general and unusual. The first group of symptoms are painful swelling and unbearable pruritus at the site of the bite. General symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and urticaria. Some patients with allergic edema may additionally experience anaphylactic shock, which is a life-threatening condition. An unusual symptom is serum sickness, which is characterized by high temperature, enlargement of lymph nodes, arthritis and kidney damage.

In the event of any of the above-mentioned symptoms, please consult your doctor, and preferably go to the hospital. Insect bite and venom allergy can be life threatening.

Diagnosis of acute laryngeal edema

The basis for the diagnosis of acute laryngeal edema is to conduct a medical interview with the patient and indirect laryngoscopy. During the medical interview with a patient with an allergic reaction, it is important to determine what factor caused the edema.

Indirect laryngoscopy - is a test performed in a standing or sitting position. During the examination, the doctor tells the patient to pull out the tongue and grabs it with his hand, and then gently pulls it forward. Then, after placing the laryngeal mirror in the vicinity of the tongue, the doctor orders the patient to pronounce the "hi" or "e" voice, which allows to visualize the examined structures.

Acute laryngeal edema - treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of acute laryngeal edema. Therefore:

• inflammation caused by bacteria should be treated with antibiotics,
• laryngeal injuries should be treated surgically,
• laryngeal edema resulting from systemic diseases requires treatment of the underlying disease,
• laryngeal edema on an allergic or vasomotor background may require tracheotomy or pharmacological agents - these may be intravenous steroids or intramuscular administration of antihistamines. In patients stung by an insect, adrenaline should be given immediately in place of the bite.

Can I prevent laryngeal edema?

To avoid laryngeal edema on the allergic background, avoid any allergens. Patients should eliminate similarly sensitizing drugs and medications from their diet. In addition, protection against insects is important. If the patient is allergic to the venom of bees, bumblebees or hornets, desensitization can be performed. The effectiveness of this method is really high and the effect is long-lasting.