why do i get swollen throats, feet, face and hands with allergy?

Question

It always starts with an itch then the next thing i know the area starts to expand. The expantion happens event if i don't sratch the area. I and diagnosed with sinus and allergy problems. This is not a seasonal problem; though i find it to be more frequent in the summer.

Answer 1

Inflammation is a common symptom of allergies, and it often follows itching, which itself can increase the swelling, but which isn't necessary for swelling to occur. Benadryl is a good start, and if it works, great. But if you're experiencing severe swelling, you may need prescription medication. See your doctor about this, as there are a wide variety of anti-allergy medications, and some work better than others depending on the person and the specific allergy. If the problem is particularly persistent, allergy shots may be the best treatment.

When you say you've been diagnosed with allergies, however, I'm not sure what kind of allergies you mean. I'm assuming you're talking about allergic rhinitis (hay fever) since you also mention sinus problems, but swelling of the feet and hands are very unusual symptoms for hay fever. They're more likely to be symptoms of eczema or contact dermatitis (for example if you get into poison ivy). You may also have a food allergy. If it's a food allergy, you should avoid the food that gives you these symptoms. If you're not sure what you're allergic to, I recommend seeing a board-certified allergist as soon as possible, as they can help you discover exactly what's causing your allergies.

Swelling of the throat can be very serious, as it can close the airway, so I recommend seeing an allergist about this right away. I would also ask the allergist (or your primary care physician) about getting a prescription for an epi-pen, which is used to treat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction to an allergen. It may save your life.

We've recently had some very good discussions about allergy shots and allergy testing in the forums at WEGO Health, where I'm a community moderator. You might want to check out these threads if you want to know more about what to expect:

http://forums.wegohealth.com/forums/viewthread/101_25/
http://forums.wegohealth.com/forums/viewthread/87_25/

If an allergist isn't able to pinpoint a specific allergy that's causing these symptoms, or if treatment doesn't seem to work, you should also talk to your doctor about the possibility that these are symptoms of another condition.
T

Answer 2

The swelling is the body's reaction (or over-reaction) to what it thinks is an invader, so the white blood cells are swarming to the site to do battle. In your particular case, your allergies are not mild, and I'd be surprised that your doctor/allergist lets you travel without an Epi-pen for emergencies. This is a self-injecting pen with epinephrine (adrenaline) which will keep you breathing until you get to the ER (hospital). If the reactions progress beyond what you've already experienced, the next step would be for your throat to swell up and close cutting off your oxygen supply (which is what the Epi-pen is for - to give you 10 min to get to the ER). Suggest that you talk to your doctor/allergist about getting a prescription for one.

I always keep one on me since I never know when something can come up whether it's airborne or something I ate.

Answer 3

I'd certainly head for a dose of benedryl, if stuff is swelling up. But talk to your doctor, he knows and is trained for these symptoms ,which are more common than you'd believe. The guy I work with couldn't believe he had allergies until his eyes puffed up so bad he could barely see, only then did the smuck go to doc and came back using a prescription, and was fine after a day or two. Now he believes! I guess it takes a shut down before folks get the message, enough!

Answer 4

It's a normal reaction. I've had my eyelids and lip and neck swell up before. Everybody reacts differently. If you feel or see a reaction, take benadryl immediately and it will decrease.