To take dd to A&E or wait to see GP

[Dewdrops1]

Hi all?

I know you can’t diagnose on here but concerned I may be wasting A&Es precious resources instead of waiting to see GP tomorrow.

we’ve just come back from holiday in Europe. 2 days ago DD who is teenager woke with a big egg sized lump on one side of forehead. No injury. She said she did squeeze a spot gently but not sure if that did it. Nothing obvious seen other than swelling. Yesterday the lump went down but the swelling spread to center of forehead and in between eyes and top of nose. The swelling has ‘flattened’ out but over a larger area and makes her forehead look slightly distorted. There’s no redness but is slightly warm to touch and tender. Dd said it’s giving her a slight headache and uncomfortable feeling.

Im worried it could be some sort of infection and it’s going near her eyes, or could it be a bug bite and I’m overthinking. So would you take her to A&E or go to GP tomorrow? The swelling isn’t massive but never experienced swelling spreading on forehead like that before (moved away from original lump) so not sure if it’s something I need to be concerned about (also nothing similar on google).

thanks for your advice in advance 🙂

Hopefully you went to a&e. I had cellulitis when I was 10 and it was really bad.

YANBU-get her to A&E just to be sure there isn't an infection building up. Fingers crossed it's not-but if it is, the sooner it's treated the better. Don't delay!

Ring 111 and see if there’s an out of hours doctor she can go to tonight, if not, go to A&E!

Lots of types of cyst don't hurt at all, and if they burst under the skin you don't always feel it.

You mention that she'd squeezed a spot - if it that was one of those cystic type spots that lurk under the skin, she might have caused some damage/irritation below the surface that's now causing swelling. My sister tried to squeeze a spot on her back last year with similar consequences (although she ignored hers and it turned into a nasty, infected abscess, so it's good that you've got antibiotics for your DD to avoid any infection).

Anything on the forehead tends to swell really dramatically (if you ever bumped your forehead on something as a kid, you'll probably remember how even a fairly gentle bump comes up like a golf ball).

So although I'm sure there are also many other things it could be, I don't think your doctor's diagnosis is necessarily implausible and hopefully it's not anything more serious. Hope your DD's doing OK today!

If you’re unsure as to whether you need a gp or a n e call 111. That’s what it’s for. They will be the best to advise. Although they do often suggest a n e to be honest.

This post seems likely to be lost in the noise. But: I am so sorry for your loss. That situation must be hard to live with. Hugs.

She already did this.

Why don't people read ops updates before posting?

She saw a Dr yesterday. The dd is fine on antibiotics as a precaution.

Similar experience a few years ago. Came home from Turkey, son had been bitten under his eye. Started off small but he took the head off it scratting. We came home and it was just a big standard pea sized bite. A few days later his eye was swollen shut and the bite had filled with puss and bright yellow/green. GP looked at it and prescribed some shite antibiotics, the most basic they give you. Said we had to finish the course and he would be fine, allergic reaction to mosquitoes. A day later I didn’t wait and went to A&E and then we were straight off to see a face surgeon 3 hours away in another hospital. My poor lad had to have the bite lanced and a drain put in his face for a week. He was given very strong antibiotics and literally overnight there was a huge difference. Has a slight scar but not noticeable. An infection set in once the head of it had been scratched off. Wasn’t allergic to mosquitoes as the GP said.

OK, I will admit i haven't read all your comments yet. I saw the picture and had to comment. My son had a serious complication from sinusitis called a Potts Puffy Tumour - it's an abscess in the sinus and can actually eat through the skull. Not wanting to worry you, but, my son needed emergency surgery and we had been told by both a GP not to worry and 111 that he was fine to wait to see a GP, we listened and could have easily lost him. Xx

That must have been terrifying for you @cannockcandy Hopr your DS made a full recovery 💐 Ive got to admit this has been worrying me as the symptoms are similar. Hope you don’t mind me asking about some of the symptoms, the original swelling on day one and two did look like the pics of PPT, we’re on day 4 now and the swelling is between her eyebrows and bridge of nose more so now, not so swollen on forehead. Did the swelling change with your DS or stay in same place? Were there any other symptoms as DD seems ok in herself. We’re on day two antibiotics and swelling still there so will be taking her back to GP tomorrow if no change.

I don't think I'd bother with the GP again, they are so useless - if no change by tomorrow then I would go to A&E at the crack of dawn armed with the info about PPT.

Fingers crossed it comes down over night x

OP, please go back and mention Potts Puffy Tumour.

Poor thing, flucloxacillin is horrible. I was on it a few months ago and it was so disgusting, I actually cried on day 5. The rotten egg smell/taste permeated through the capsules and I had reflux that meant the taste ‘repeated on me’ all day.

Hopefully they kick in soon though, and the swelling is nothing more concerning.

Oh my goodness, get this checked out ASAP. I wouldn't wait until tomorrow OP

I wouldn't be waiting to be honest

Apologies, missed the update.👍

Does she have cold (or recently had a cold) or/and headache?

I hope everything works out but I am still concerned.

During lock down my son had a spot/lump in the middle of his forehead. No idea where it came from but it looked sore and it certainly shouldn't have been there! The GP looked via video and sent him straight to hospital "because I don't like where it is, with it being near his brain.."

She was off school with a temp and cold like symptoms on the 25th June but recovered quickly, has been ok since, other than the odd headache.

Hope your DS was ok @BirthdayRainbow Do you mind me asking what the diagnosis was?

Not a medic but the pic 2 looks too big to be a ruptured pic 1.

Do you have the money for a private dermatology appt? If you’re in London I can recommend you to one.

Even if it is a ruptured cyst that can cause scarring.

I can't remember but he had very strong antibiotics iirc and a lot of attention.

it was a localised lump though, about a ten piece size, not as big as on your dc.