Quincke's edema in children: symptoms and treatment, photo

All parents sooner or later face allergic reactions in children. Depending on the body, these phenomena occur with different symptoms and treatment. Quincke's edema in children is one of the dangerous complications of allergies. The article describes the symptoms, features and treatment of this pathology.

What it is?

Quincke's edema (synonyms: angioedema, giant urticaria) is a combination of processes that result in dense edema that extends to the entire depth of the skin and subcutaneous fat. It is observed at any age, even in infants, but more often occurs in adults. The development of this condition is more prone to female persons. The danger of angioedema is that quite often it is complicated by swelling of the larynx, and this condition is life-threatening.

With the manifestation of symptoms of Quincke's edema in children, lips, eyelids, cheeks, feet and hands, neck and genitals significantly increase.

How is it manifested in children?

According to pediatricians, Quincke's edema is observed in childhood with a frequency of 1/50, and most often it is diagnosed against the background of already existing allergic diseases (urticaria, bronchial asthma, pollinosis, atopic dermatitis). However, sometimes the disease develops with a negative allergic history.

In some cases, the cause of the development of this condition cannot be calculated. Symptoms of Quincke's edema in children, complicated by inflammation of the larynx, are deadly and manifest with a frequency of 20-25%.

Angioedema according to the duration of manifestation can be divided into acute (up to 6 weeks) and chronic (longer than 6 weeks). An isolated form and edema, combined with urticaria, are also distinguished.

Causes of the disease

The direct mechanism for the formation of angioneurotic edema is the release from a special cell, called mast, into the blood of a specific substance - histamine. It causes the expansion of the lumen of capillaries, increases the permeability of their walls, as a result, its immune cells (neutrophils and lymphocytes) and plasma leave the blood in the surrounding tissues. Thus, they are impregnated with liquid and swell.

But the reasons for the release of histamine may be different. Many medicinal substances are powerful allergens. Most often, such a reaction is caused by penicillin-type antibiotics, as well as iodine, aspirin, B vitamins, local anesthetics. Sometimes edema develops due to the use of any food products, as well as under the influence of poison and saliva of insects, plant pollen.

Types of Quincke edema by the mechanism of occurrence

Not only an allergic reaction can provoke a complication. The disease can be inherited. What the complication looks like, a photo of Quincke edema in children will show.

He can be:

1. Allergic. When an allergen enters the baby’s body for the first time, the immune cells recognize it as a “foreign agent." However, allergic symptoms do not occur, because the incoming substance is not familiar to the protective cells, and they need time to develop special proteins (antibodies) against it. And when it enters the body again, its molecules attach to antibodies already formed against it on the membrane of mast cells. As a result, they are destroyed, and histamine is released into the bloodstream, which starts the process of tissue swelling. This form of Quincke edema is rarely observed in children under three years of age, due to insufficient contact of the child with a variety of allergens.
2. Non-allergic. This type develops with the direct destructive effect of a foreign substance (insect venom, drugs, dyes, etc.) on the membrane of mast cells. This form of edema in young children is much more common than allergic.
3. Hereditary, or recurrent. It arises due to genetically determined increased reactivity of special protective bodies - cells of the complement system. Due to their increased excitability, they can be activated for any reason, for example, due to excitement, hypothermia, pain reaction. It is this form of angioedema that often occurs in severe form. Most often, a positive family history of this disease is detected.

Symptoms in children

The symptoms of Quincke's edema in children are manifested differently. Treatment, respectively, may also be different.
This disease in children can be detected by the following clinical forms:

• Swelling of the mucous membranes with subcutaneous tissue. This form is the most common. Typical places for the formation of edema are the area of ​​the face (eyelids, lips, tongue, soft palate), palms and feet, and external genitalia. It occurs in areas of the body where subcutaneous fat is present. Swelling appears suddenly, growing rapidly. To the touch, the affected area is dense, painless. The patient may experience a sense of schedule and tingling at the site of the edema. Itchy skin is not characteristic.
• Laryngeal edema. This condition may begin with a sudden hoarseness of the voice, "barking" cough. Then quite quickly there is difficulty breathing, cyanosis. This dangerous condition requires emergency medical attention.
• Abdominal syndrome. So more often a relapsing form of Quincke's edema is manifested. In this case, it occurs in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract. It manifests itself in sudden severe pain in the abdomen, repeated vomiting, loose stools with an admixture of blood. Since skin manifestations may be absent, this condition causes difficulties in diagnosis and requires further examination.
• Edema with neurological symptoms. Rare form. The meninges or the brain itself swell. It can be manifested by depression of consciousness, stiff neck, dizziness, impaired speech, vision, paralysis of the limbs and seizures.
• Extremely rare forms with localization of edema in the urinary tract, joints, heart.

First aid

To properly provide first aid to a child with Quincke's edema, you need to know some rules. And also do not panic and follow the advice of doctors:

1. If you know an allergen, then first of all you should quickly isolate it (for example, remove a bee sting or stop administering the drug), and then lay the baby down.
2. Be sure to immediately call a doctor, even if the well-being of the child seems to be quite satisfactory.
3. If the contact point with the allergen is on the limb (injection or bite), it is advisable to apply a tourniquet above this point. With the development of edema on the body - put a cooling compress to slow the spread of the allergen.
4. It is necessary to organize a plentiful drink and intake of enterosorbents in order to remove harmful substances as soon as possible.
5. Sometimes antihistamines prescribed by your doctor are also taken.
6. In a situation with difficulty breathing, health workers administer glucocorticoids. With recurrent edema of the respiratory tract, parents are usually taught what to do with Quincke's edema in a child and how to administer such drugs on their own in emergency situations.

Treatment

If possible, physical contact with known or suspected allergens should be avoided, and a special diet should be strictly observed. Treatment of Quincke's edema in children involves a decrease in allergic reactivity, for which antihistamines and enzyme preparations are prescribed, which are drunk with courses.

It is extremely important to treat the existing foci of chronic infection (carious teeth, ENT organs, digestive system organs), as studies have shown that bacteria and their metabolic products increase histamine release, thereby contributing to an increase in the severity and duration of clinical manifestations of Quincke edema. With an allergic form, diuretics and ascorutin are also prescribed.

If edema is a hereditary disease, then the patient is injected with fresh plasma. And with inflammation of the larynx, inhalation with salbutamol and oxygen therapy are recommended. With an increase in respiratory failure, intubation is performed or a tracheostomy is performed, and artificial lung ventilation is performed.

Prevention

It is important to follow some rules to reduce the incidence of Quincke edema in children. A photo of the symptoms characteristic of this disease, you can see in this article.

The necessary conditions for the prevention of all types of allergies, including Quincke's edema, are:

• Maintaining cleanliness in the home (wet cleaning, regular airing).
• Minimizing the use of household chemicals.
• Caution in choosing bedding (pillows and blankets made of natural fluff are prohibited), clothing, hygiene products and cosmetics.
• Compliance with a hypoallergenic diet. If the product that causes Quincke's edema is known, you need to completely exclude it from the diet.
• Caution when eating exotic dishes, as well as unfamiliar products. When introducing a new diet into the diet for the first time, you need to try it in a minimal amount.

The main products that can cause angioedema are fish, chicken protein, strawberries, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus fruits, cheese, sauerkraut.
Before any medical manipulations (vaccinations, dental treatment, the introduction of contrast for x-ray studies, etc.) and when prescribing medications, you should definitely warn the doctor about the presence of any types of allergies, especially drug allergies.
Children who are sensitive to insect bites should wear closed clothing and a hat when possible in nature. It is forbidden to walk barefoot outside the house.

Disease prognosis

In most cases, angioedema in children has a benign course and a favorable prognosis. In children with a relapsing form, as a rule, the situation is more unfavorable due to the high frequency of development of severe forms (laryngeal edema, bronchospasm and anaphylactic shock).

Each parent needs to know how Quincke's edema manifests itself in children in order to timely respond to the situation and possibly save the life of their child. Only the quick action of adults can reduce the risk of complications of the disease.

To summarize

The article examined Quincke's edema in children, symptoms and treatment, types, prevention and prognosis. We can say that this complication is very dangerous and without qualified medical care can lead to death. Therefore, parents should consult a doctor in a timely manner after complaints of the child and the appearance of allergic skin reactions.