periodic edema
Noun: A medical condition characterized by the recurrent, sudden appearance of large, well-defined areas of swelling beneath the skin. These episodes typically resolve completely within 24 hours. It is most commonly observed in young women and is often associated with an allergic response to certain foods or medications.
This term is a specific medical or clinical term. It is used formally to diagnose or describe a particular pattern of symptomatic swelling. * The patient's history of brief, severe facial swelling led the allergist to diagnose periodic edema. * Periodic edema can be a challenging condition to manage due to its unpredictable nature.
- The term is often used synonymously with angioedema, particularly when describing the idiopathic or hereditary forms that present with recurrent episodes. However, "periodic edema" specifically emphasizes the recurrent and transient nature of the swelling.
- In a clinical note: "Differential diagnosis includes urticaria versus periodic edema."
- Angioedema (n.): A broader term for rapid swelling of the deeper layers of the skin, often used interchangeably with "periodic edema" but can also describe single, non-recurrent episodes.
- Quincke's edema (n.): An eponymous (named after a person) synonym for angioedema, often referring to swelling affecting the face, lips, or throat.
- Edema (n.): The general medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.
- Angioedema
- Quincke's edema
- Recurrent angioedema
This term has a single, specific meaning in medical terminology. It does not have common idiomatic or phrasal verb uses, as it is a technical noun.
- recurrent large circumscribed areas of subcutaneous edema; onset is sudden and it disappears within 24 hours; seen mainly in young women, often as an allergic reaction to food or drugs