Is it not an allergy? What is Hereditary Angioedema and why is it often confused with allergy?

As we enter the Spring season and many of us suffer from allergies, let's pay attention to a disease that is often confused with allergy, Hereditary Angioedema. It is a rare disease that manifests itself with episodes of edema (swelling) in various parts of the body. These swellings are similar to the swelling caused by allergies, but they are not accompanied by itching like an allergic rash. They are usually found on the limbs and face, but can also appear on other areas of the body such as the genitals, thighs and abdomen, and are usually painful. In particular, gastrointestinal edema can cause very severe abdominal pain that is often mistaken for episodes of acute appendicitis. Extremely dangerous and potentially fatal is the swelling that can develop in the larynx, as it can lead to airway obstruction and suffocation. How common is Hereditary Angioedema? The severity of the disease, as well as the frequency and location of the episodes associated with it, vary not only from patient to patient but also within the same patient during his lifetime. Hereditary Angioedema is caused by the quantitative lack or dysfunction of C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), a regulatory protein in the blood that is involved in the process of inflammation and the regulation of vascular permeability. Although the appearance of symptoms of Hereditary Angioedema begins relatively early in the life of patients, for most of them the journey to an official diagnosis takes years. The rarity of the disease as well as the incorrect attribution of symptoms to other diseases such as allergic reactions, lead to the inability to make a correct and timely diagnosis. The disease is typically diagnosed 13 or more years after the initial appearance of the symptoms that afflict the patient! The prevalence of the disease is estimated to be 1:50,000 people worldwide, with the range of prevalence by geographic area varying considerably (1:10,000 to 1:100,000), with men and women being affected with equal frequency. Hereditary disease It is a hereditary disease that is passed from generation to generation in a specific way. If one parent suffers from the disease, the chances of their child inheriting it are 50%. Despite the hereditary nature of the disease, in 25% of patients C1 esterase inhibitor deficiency may be due to new mutations without a hereditary history. Although you may have a history of the disease in your family, if you experience swelling in the extremities or pain in the abdomen without any other clinical cause, it would be a good idea to contact your family doctor or an allergist.