Glottis edema, scientifically known as laryngeal angioedema, is a complication that can arise during a severe allergic reaction and is characterized by swelling in the throat area.
This situation is considered a medical emergency, as the swelling that affects the throat can obstruct the flow of air to the lungs, preventing breathing. What to do in case of glottis edema includes:
- Call medical help by calling SAMU 192; Ask if the person has any allergy medication, so they can take it while waiting for help. Some people with severe allergies may even have an epinephrine pen, which should be administered in a severe allergy situation; Keep the person preferably lying down, with legs elevated, to facilitate blood circulation; Observe the person's vital signs, such as heartbeat and breathing, as if they are absent, cardiac massage will be necessary. Check out the step-by-step instructions on how to do cardiac massage.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction appear quickly, after a few minutes to a few hours of exposure to the substance causing the allergy, including difficulty in breathing, feeling of a ball in the throat or wheezing when breathing.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of glottis edema are:
- Sensation of a lump in the throat; Difficulty breathing; Wheezing or a shrill noise while breathing; Feeling of tightness in the chest; Hoarseness; Difficulty speaking.
There are other symptoms that usually accompany glottis edema and are associated with the type of allergy, such as hives, with red or itchy skin, swollen eyes and lips, enlarged tongue, itchy throat, conjunctivitis or asthma attack, for example.
These symptoms usually appear in 5 minutes to 30 minutes after exposure to a substance that causes allergy, which can be a medication, a food, the bite of an insect, changes in temperature or even by a genetic predisposition, in patients with a disease called Hereditary Angioedema. Learn more about this disease here.
How the treatment is done
After evaluation by the medical team and confirmation of the risk of glottis edema, treatment is indicated, made with medications that will quickly decrease the action of the immune system, and include the application of injections containing adrenaline, anti-allergens and corticosteroids.
As there may be intense difficulty in breathing, it may be necessary to use an oxygen mask or even orotracheal intubation, in which a tube is placed through the person's throat so that their breathing is not blocked by the swelling.
