What Is Angioedema?

Written by Jeff Silver, Bethany Afshar
Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on January 22, 2026
4 min read

Angioedema is swelling beneath your skin. It can affect many areas of your body, including your:

  • Face
  • Throat
  • Larynx (your voice box)
  • Uvula (the little piece of skin that hangs from the back of your throat)
  • Arms
  • Hands
  • Legs or feet

It can also happen around your genitals and in your intestines. It’s common to get hives at the same time.

The swelling feels like large, thick, firm welts and can cause redness, pain, or warmth in the swollen areas. If it’s in your lower intestine, it can bring stomach pain. Angioedema can be dangerous if swelling is in your throat or tongue. That can make it hard to breathe. If this happens, you should get medical help right away.

The causes of angioedema vary based on the type of angioedema that you have.

Allergic angioedema 

This is the most common kind. Your allergic reaction can be due to foods, such as:

It could also be due to:

Drug-induced angioedema

Some medicines can trigger angioedema. They include:

Certain blood pressure medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors can also cause flare-ups that can happen quickly. Even if you’ve been taking ACE inhibitors for a long time, sudden reactions can still happen.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE)

This is rare. It happens when your body doesn’t make enough of a blood protein called C1 esterase inhibitor. That lets fluid from your blood move into other tissues, which causes swelling.

You’ll usually have your first bout of this before you turn 12. You may pass the condition on to your children.

Acquired angioedema (AAE)

AAE has the same symptoms as HAE. It’s different because it doesn’t happen until you’re older than 40. It usually happens when you have an underlying condition that weakens your immune system. Unlike HAE, you can’t pass AAE on to your children.

Idiopathic angioedema

Idiopathic means there isn’t a known cause for your swelling. Possible culprits can include:

Allergic and drug-induced angioedema usually happen within an hour of exposure to your trigger. Hereditary and acquired types usually happen over many hours, but it can feel much faster if you wake up and suddenly discover swelling.

You may have a higher chance of angioedema if:

  • You’ve had hives, allergic reactions, or angioedema before.
  • You have lupus, lymphoma, thyroid disease, hepatitis, HIV, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, or have had a blood transfusion.
  • You have a family history of hives or angioedema.
  • You have asthma and take NSAIDs.
  • You take ACE inhibitors (especially if you’re a woman or African American), or if you take angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).
  • You’ve had recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA ) therapy for a stroke.

To find out what type of angioedema you have, your doctor will examine you and ask about your symptoms. They may do blood tests to get more details.

Angioedema usually gets better on its own within a few days. If you do need treatment, it can include:

  • Medicines to ease swelling and inflammation, such as antihistamines and oral corticosteroids
  • Drugs to slow down your immune system if antihistamines and corticosteroids don’t work
  • Other medicines that ease pain and swelling, such as leukotriene antagonists (a group of anti-inflammatory medicines that aren’t steroids)
  • Blood protein controllers if you have hereditary angioedema

If your angioedema is drug-induced, your doctor will usually switch you to another medicine that you can handle better.

For a serious attack, you may need a shot of epinephrine (a type of adrenaline). For repeated strong attacks, you may need to carry a pen-like device so you can inject yourself with epinephrine in an emergency.

You can avoid allergic episodes if you stay away from foods, medications, or other conditions that trigger angioedema. If you don’t know what’s causing your episodes, try to keep a diary to track foods, symptoms, and situations tied to your symptoms.

Your doctor might suggest you take antihistamines daily instead of just when you need them. This can help get rid of episodes, make them happen less often, or be less dangerous. You also won’t have to wait for the medicine to start working when you need relief.

Angioedema is a type of swelling that occurs just beneath the skin and frequently shows up alongside hives, redness, and warmth. Allergic and drug-induced cases can flare within an hour of exposure to triggers, while hereditary or acquired forms tend to build more slowly. Most bouts clear within a few days. Treatments range from antihistamines and corticosteroids to emergency epinephrine. By tracking your personal triggers, you can often prevent or lessen future attacks.

Is angioedema an autoimmune disorder?

Angioedema itself is not an autoimmune disorder. However, one rare type of angioedema — acquired angioedema — is caused by underlying conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, that weaken the immune system. 

What is mistaken for angioedema?

Some conditions can mimic the symptoms of angioedema. These are called pseudoangioedema. These conditions include allergic contact dermatitis, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS), and orofacial granulomatosis, among others.

Which doctor treats angioedema?

An allergist and/or immunologist is most likely to diagnose and treat angioedema. However, dermatology, ENT, and gastroenterology doctors may also be consulted depending on the type of angioedema you have.