Angioedema as reaction to a virus

[lochmaree]

Does anyone else's LO get angioedema as a reaction to a virus? After many GP visits, an unsuccessful trip to A&E and then a trip to PAU yesterday, they said our 16mo has angioedema and its most likely caused by a reaction to a virus. He has had 3 episodes of facial swelling in the last 2 weeks and is now on 2x daily cetirizine.

It usually affects his cheeks, eyes, over the bridge of his nose, and forehead. but this morning his lower lip was swollen. that has now gone down but around his genitals are swollen. he still has a little swelling on his face, mostly cheeks. this episode started on Monday. He also now has a rash on his face, legs and arms (this has happened 3x before when he's been ill with a virus)

There is something rare called Herpetic angioedema, and it is caused by the Herpes virus. Post exposure to herpes virus, even non disease causing, small things can trigger it. A random virus from someone, or in infants and toddlers a live virus in a vaccine.
Your doctor should check the HSV levels in blood.
One of many medical references to get the ball rolling on the HSV possibility https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA187963649&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=00017019&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E917b9740&aty=open-web-entry

If this comes back negative, then a referral to a genetic counsellor is recommended because there are a couple of genetic mutations which can cause this. Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is super rare but will cause recurrent episodes of angioedema. You can test for the SERPING1, F12, or PLG mutations.

My dd got this up until she was about 10 years old she does also have allergies and some autoimmune conditions

@youdonotneedanewphone really useful thank you very much! I have done a lot of reading but I hadn't come across that.

@WouldyouThink that'd interesting, my DH has an autoimmune condition. Did you manage your DDs with antihistamines? is she ok now?