What should you know about your daughter’s swollen lips?

Think about timing: swelling after food, medicine, a sting, or contact with a new product can be an allergic reaction. A local injury, chapped skin, or biting the lip can also cause puffiness. Swelling with hives, facial swelling, vomiting, hoarseness, wheezing, or throat tightness may indicate angioedema or a more serious allergic reaction. One-sided tenderness, warmth, fever, pus, or tooth pain points toward infection or a dental cause.

Check that she is breathing comfortably and can swallow normally. Stop a suspected new food or product and keep the packaging or name for the clinician. A cool clean compress may ease mild swelling after minor irritation. Do not give a new medicine unless a healthcare professional has advised it for her age and situation. Arrange same-day medical advice when the cause is unclear, swelling is increasing, or pain and fever are present.

Call emergency services immediately for trouble breathing, noisy breathing, throat or tongue swelling, difficulty swallowing, faintness, unusual sleepiness, or rapidly spreading swelling. If she has a prescribed emergency allergy plan, follow it while help is coming. Do not wait for a rash to appear.

Ask what trigger is most plausible, whether she needs allergy assessment, what symptoms should prompt emergency treatment, and which medicines are safe for her age and weight. Mention every recent food, medicine, sting, product, illness, and injury.