Angioedema Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Huamin Henry Li, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Michael A Kaliner, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 6, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Allergy-related considerations in the differential diagnosis of angioedema include the following:

  • Inhalants
  • Bites and stings
  • Natural rubber latex
  • Foods (eg, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, seafood, sulfites)

Drug-related considerations in the differential diagnosis include the following:

  • ACE inhibitors
  • Beta-lactam antibiotics
  • Sulfonamides
  • Aspirin/NSAIDs
  • Insulin
  • Dilantin
  • Streptokinase

Viral infections to consider in the differential diagnosis include the following:

  • Herpes simplex
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • Mononucleosis
  • Coxsackieviruses A and B

Bacterial infections to consider in the differential diagnosis include the following:

  • Dental caries/abscesses
  • Pharyngitis
  • Tonsillitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Otitis media
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Urinary tract infection

Parasitic infections to consider in the differential diagnosis include the following:

  • Ascaris species
  • Strongyloides species
  • Echinococcus species
  • Toxocara species
  • Fasciola species
  • Filaria species
  • Schistosoma species

Other conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis include the following:

  • Bullous pemphigoid
  • Contact edema
  • Localized edema
  • Ludwig angina
  • Morbilliform drug eruptions
  • Urticaria pigmentosa
  • Cellulitis
  • Epiglottitis
  • Erysipelas
  • Erythema multiforme
  • Granulomatous cheilitis
  • Peritonsillar abscess
  • Retropharyngeal abscess
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Asthma

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Huamin Henry Li, MD, PhD  Director of Immunology, Institute for Asthma and Allergy; Assistant Professor, George Washington University Medical Center

Huamin Henry Li, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and MedChi

Disclosure: Dyax Consulting fee Consulting; Shire/Jerini Consulting fee Consulting; CSL Behring Consulting fee Consulting; Viro Pharma Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sanofi-Advantis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Viro Pharma Consulting fee Consulting

Chief Editor

Michael A Kaliner, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine; Chief, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Washington Hospital Center; Medical Director, Institute for Asthma and Allergy

Michael A Kaliner, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Thoracic Society, and Association of American Physicians

Disclosure: Alcon Consulting fee Consulting; Teva Consulting fee Consulting; Meda Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ista Consulting fee Consulting; sunovian Consulting fee Consulting; dey Honoraria Review panel membership

Additional Contributors

Stephen C Dreskin, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine, Departments of Internal Medicine, Director of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Practice, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Stephen C Dreskin, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Clinical Immunology Society, and Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

Disclosure: Genentech Consulting fee Consulting; American Health Insurance Plans Consulting fee Consulting; Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Consulting fee Consulting; Array BioPharma Consulting fee Consulting

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

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Photographic documentation of swelling.
Types of angioedema.
Pathways for production of prostaglandins and leukotrine from mobilized arachidonic acid.
Bradykinin production and metabolism.
Angioedema secondary to ACE inhibitors.
 
 
 
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