What could this be?

[goodnessgraciousannie]

DD (6) has woken up saying she's in a lot of pain, it's just under her left ear. It's really swollen compared to the other side and you can feel a sort of lump when you run a finger over it. She doesn't feel unwell apart from this pain and doesn't seem to have a temperature. Anyone have any idea what it could be? Obviously can't get a gp appointment today so just hoping it's something that will not get any worse over the day!

Any problems with her teeth? I had similar and 1st off thought it was mumps but actually it was an abcess under a tooth that had burst and the infection was sitting in the tissues around there

I’d call 111 for advice if I were you. Hope she’s ok.

I've asked if her teeth hurt when she ate breakfast but she said they don't. It's very painful to touch the area though and she says the pain is there constantly

Oh also just to add she says it doesn't hurt when she swallows

Lumps are often swollen lymph nodes, and there are some around there. She may have an infection somewhere.

When I googled, a condition called mastoiditis was mentioned, although it said swelling with that was seen behind the ear. It said was a 111 job if suspected, as ABs would be needed quickly.

I'd call to be on the safe side.

Sounds like her gland is up

Does her ear look red inside? I wonder whether it's an ear infection. My daughter used to have them and they were very very painful and needed antibiotics.

Possibly the start of mumps? Has anyone been ill that she has been near in the last 2 weeks?

I would give her some calpol for the pain and see how she is in a couple of hours.

Maybe call 111 for advice if it gets worse or set starts with a fever

Thanks all. I've asked if her ear hurts inside and she said it doesn't. The swelling is very noticeable though and she has lost her jaw line under her ear if that makes sense. I'll give 111 a call. Hoping it's something that might just go down on its own and not get worse through the day!

Oh forgot to add that we have all had the awful cold that's been doing the rounds and she's been the one that seems to have had it the worst but we thought she was finally getting over the worst of it as she hasn't coughed etc in a few days

Definitely call 111 but I had this once and it was a calcium stone in my saliva duct. It worked it's way out on its own so the pain and swelling suddenly came up then suddenly went the same day. Very odd. Maybe it's that!

Whenever my daughter has ear infections (we call 111 a fair amount!) they always ask if she has a painful lump behind her ear so it could be significant - I would call 111 for advice

How is she op?

@Olivando I spoke to 111 who told us we would get a call back but they said a few hours and it never happened so I'm guessing they are too busy.
She's in quite a lot of pain with it, it's now very swollen just underneath her ear, she also says it's a bit itchy. It's hot to touch. There's not much colour change to the skin there though. If it's still the same tomorrow I'll make a gp appt

Sounds like a swollen lymph gland.
Behind jaw?

Could be paratoid gland ?
Can she eat without it hurting her jaw?

Could it be a boil?

It's literally just under her earlobe so kind of just at the back of her jaw bone. She said it now hurts a bit when she swallows. Not sure about a boil as whatever it seems to be is under the skin and I thought boils normally have a head but I could be wrong?

Parotid is in front of the ear on side of cheek.

She may have a sore throat coming on.

Has her adult tooth started to erupt (they come through behind the set of baby teeth, around about age 6, no baby teeth are lost for them to come through and they are very far back).

As they are large adult teeth, they can cause some issues, particularly if partially erupted and food gets impacted. Potential source of infection?

It does sound like a gland. Have you checked in her throat for tonsillitis?

Thanks for all the suggestions. She has said non of her teeth hurt so I don't think it could be that. I've tried to take a picture, you really can't see the swelling in the picture because of the angle of where it is but hopefully it gives people an idea of the area it's in.

@Olivando luckily it's definitely not tonsils as she had them removed last year

While I am not a 6 year old girl, I had a massively swollen lump in exactly the same place last week. Hot, painful and itchy. It was a swollen gland, in my case associated with a kidney infection but could have been any virus/illness easily.