Headache and swollen face: what to check

Swelling on one side near the cheek, jaw, or eye may accompany a tooth problem, skin infection, blocked sinus, or chronic sinusitis. Nasal congestion, facial pressure, reduced smell, and thick discharge support a sinus-related pattern. Itchy eyes, sneezing, or hives can occur with allergic rhinitis. Fever, warmth, redness, worsening tenderness, or feeling very unwell suggests infection and needs medical review. Swelling around the lips or tongue may be an allergic reaction and can progress quickly.

Look at where the swelling started, how fast it developed, whether the eye is affected, and whether there is tooth pain, fever, rash, or trouble swallowing.

Seek same-day advice for painful or enlarging swelling, fever, eye symptoms, or suspected dental infection. Until assessed, keep the area clean, drink fluids, and use a cool compress on the face. Do not squeeze a lump or place unprescribed substances on it. For a known mild allergy, follow your clinician's action plan. Avoid a suspected trigger and keep someone informed if swelling is changing.

Call emergency services immediately for swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, voice change, faintness, or rapidly spreading facial swelling. Urgent care is also needed for swelling around the eye with vision change, painful eye movement, severe headache, confusion, or high fever. A sudden severe headache with weakness, speech trouble, or collapse is an emergency regardless of the swelling.

Ask whether the swelling needs dental, ear-nose-throat, allergy, or general medical assessment; which treatments are suitable; and what changes require emergency help. Bring a list of new foods, medicines, products, insect exposures, and recent dental or respiratory symptoms.