What are the characteristics of an HAE attack?
Patients often report tingling or tightness at the site where edema then occurs thirty minutes to several hours later. In some cases, this sensation can be present twelve to twenty four hours before the onset of swelling. Approximately one fourth of HAE patients experience a flat, non-itching red blotchy rash both before and during an attack. Swelling of the extremities is uncomfortable and, according to some patients, can be painful and debilitating depending on the location of the edema. Untreated, an average attack lasts for twenty-four to seventy-two hours, but some residual swelling may persist for up to four or more days. Attacks that involve the face or throat should be considered a medical emergency. They must be taken seriously and medical treatment should be sought without delay. Swelling of the throat can close the air passage and cause death by suffocation. The symptoms of an impending airway obstruction include difficulty swallowing and a change in voice pitch. As noted ab
