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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sudden Onset Of Swelling In The Uvula?

My 21 year old son, non-smoker, thin build, almost too thin had a sudden onset of massive swelling of the uvula about a month ago. The swelling closed his air way off and he was choking, went to ER., was given steroids and anti anxiety meds and CT scan showed nothing unusual. 2 weeks later it started to happen again. Went to urgent care, has been back to urgent care 3 times in 6 weeks, the last time they put him on penicillin for strep. He had blood work done that showed negative to all allergens tested for but very low vitamin D level and low level of testosterone. he has a lump in his throat now but not the same swelling as the uvula. OTC and Rx allergy meds are not helping. Now he s being referred to ENT but has to wait a month more than a month to get in, meanwhile the urgent care has ordered another CT scan. If the CT scan at the ER did not show anything why do we think another CT scan will? The medical bills are piling up and we still have no answers.
Thu, 14 Mar 2019
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi,

The most common cause of uvula swelling remains allergens. You have to get more testing done for your son to identify the allergen involved. Treatment of choice for that is the total exclusion of that allergen.

Apart from that, medications like antihistamines and steroids are drugs of choice.

If all the causative agents have been excluded, the possibility of Hereditary/acquired Angioedema is there as the common age of presentation is the second decade of life.

The diagnosis is done by checking the level of a substance called C1 esterase inhibitor in the blood.

Treatment of choice for that is intravenous purified, vapor-heated C1 esterase inhibitor concentrate.

I suggest you discuss with your doctor all these factors for proper diagnosis and treatment of the condition.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Maninder, General & Family Physician
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What Causes Sudden Onset Of Swelling In The Uvula?

Hi, The most common cause of uvula swelling remains allergens. You have to get more testing done for your son to identify the allergen involved. Treatment of choice for that is the total exclusion of that allergen. Apart from that, medications like antihistamines and steroids are drugs of choice. If all the causative agents have been excluded, the possibility of Hereditary/acquired Angioedema is there as the common age of presentation is the second decade of life. The diagnosis is done by checking the level of a substance called C1 esterase inhibitor in the blood. Treatment of choice for that is intravenous purified, vapor-heated C1 esterase inhibitor concentrate. I suggest you discuss with your doctor all these factors for proper diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Maninder, General & Family Physician