Flu and face swelling: what to know

Facial swelling may involve the lips, eyelids, cheeks or tongue. Sudden swelling after food, medicine or an insect sting can be angioedema or anaphylaxis. Painful, warm, red swelling with fever may indicate cellulitis. Facial pressure, blocked nasal passages and tenderness can occur with sinusitis. Kidney disease can cause puffiness, especially around the eyes, while a flu-like illness may simply happen at the same time as another problem.

The pattern matters: sudden progression and airway symptoms are emergencies, whereas gradual swelling still deserves clinical review to identify the source and treatment.

If swelling began after a possible trigger, stop exposure and keep the suspected food or medicine details available for clinicians. Do not apply irritant creams or squeeze a painful area. Drink normally unless a clinician has restricted fluids, and use a cool compress for comfort. If you have a prescribed adrenaline auto-injector and signs of a severe allergic reaction, use it as instructed and call emergency services.

Call emergency services for tongue or throat swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, hoarse voice, wheezing, faintness, widespread hives, or rapidly worsening swelling. Seek same-day assessment for fever with hot painful redness, eye swelling or vision changes, severe facial pain, or swelling that keeps increasing. Children and people with known allergies should be assessed promptly when symptoms change suddenly.

Tell the clinician when swelling began and ask whether it fits allergy, infection, sinus disease or fluid retention, which tests or medicines are needed, and how to respond if it returns.