Sudden huge swelling on DS’s lip!

[Phyllis321]

Could someone please advise? He’s not in much discomfort and can eat ok, but it’s such a huge swelling and appeared suddenly.

My son had something similar earlier this year. He had a mouth ulcer and used Bonjela (unfortunately I didn't realise it's not recommended for under 16's, he's a six foot 13 year old though) and his lip swelled exactly like your sons. I just kept an eye on it, used ice packs and it had gone down by the morning.

However everyone else has said go to A&E so maybe don't listen to what I did

Here's my son's. Maybe not as bad as your son's lip and you can see the ulcer.

Mine did this last time I ate cherries. I get a mild allergic reaction to lots of raw and veg.

Is there an ulcer or spot on/near his lip?

I get this occasionally, although not quite so swollen. It comes up very quickly, just affecting one side, usually the left I think. It doesn't itch, just feels a lit bit hot/tingly. I don't know what causes it, but it seems to be when I have chapped lips and bite absent-mindedly atva bit of skin... Hope you get it sorted quickly!

Angio-oedema.

If he is well, it is unlikely to be anaphylaxis. It might have an allergic cause but - assuming he takes no regular medicines, there is no widespread itchy rash, and this problem doesn't run in the family - it will likely end up being "idiopathic angioedema" (cause unknown) and never happen again.

You should probably call 111 and they'll likely make sure you spend the best part of the night waiting in A&E.

Someone there will treat him with antihistamines and steroids. There is not really any role for these drugs and the lip swelling will go down by itself over the next few weeks.

Obviously take the advice of 111 and any clinician who actually assesses him over that of random strangers in the internet (including me).

(Passing A&E doctor)

We’re in the kid’s waiting room. They’ve triaged and don’t seem especially worried. Thanks for all your advice.

Cold sore starting?

That isn't a coldsore

All good, two doctors checked him over and let us go home. Phew!

Oh that is good news! Hope it’s better this morning

Better safe than sorry!

Is he particularly stressed or anxious op? Does he suffer from any other skin issues like eg eczema? It was at about his age that I started getting lip swelling like that, it started with a tingle and then would swell. Sometimes it was my eye. Sometimes lumps on my neck. It was a sort of urticaria, like hives, they think brought on by going through a very anxious time at school, and because I had eczema my skin was very sensitive.
Tbh I have never really been cured from it, it still happens occasionally, but never as significant as it used to be.
Potentially a dermatologist might have some advice. Hope this helps a bit, it may not be this of course!!!

Sorry I missed out an important bit - it has a name you can look up! Angioedema

@Phyllis321 what did the doctors think it was?

@Blinkinname I have oral allergy syndrome too with cherries and apples being the worst culprit. Annoying isn’t it?

#coviduality he IS going through an anxious time at school, yes. I hadn’t thought of that.

They thought it was most likely an infected bite and offered ABs if it doesn’t heal swiftly.

@coviduality

How long did it take to go away? And did it leave any mark when it was gone? I'd expect an angioedema to go down in a few hours (max 12 daperhaps?) and leave no trace. A bite would hang around for days I think?
If it's any comfort, my first lip lump was by far the worst, other ones were smaller and more manageable.

Thank you. It’s all a bit manky and slightly greenish inside the mouth, so almost certainly a bite. If it gets worse I’ll ask for ABs.

ooh, that sounds nice! hope it clears up really quickly

Looks like a mucocele.