The child’s upper lip is swollen - why could this happen and what to do?

Swelling of the upper lip in a child indicates the development of pathological processes in the body that require mandatory treatment.

This article discusses the main causes, symptoms and treatment methods depending on the etiology of edema. Possible complications and prevention of this condition in a child are also described.

Why is my child's upper lip swollen?

A swelling on a child’s lip cannot occur on its own. This signals the emergence of some problems that affect the baby’s health.

To prevent them, it is important to correctly and timely identify the factors that provoked swelling.

Among them, experts highlight:

• It is important to correctly and timely identify the factors that provoked swelling

  Allergy, as a reaction to certain foods , oral hygiene products. This is also how the body can react to taking certain medications or the presence of orthodontic structures in the mouth.

• Insect bites provoke swelling of the mucous membranes of the lips, as a result of individual allergies.
• Teething may be accompanied by slight swelling of the baby's lips.
• Traumatic injury. In addition to mechanical damage, a swollen lip in a child can cause frostbite, chapping, or burns.
• Pathologies of systemic viral, infectious or bacterial origin. Most often, the body reacts this way to ARVI, herpes infection, or acute respiratory infections.
• Dental diseases: periodontal disease, stomatitis of any etiology, periodontal disease, periostitis.
• Dentist mistakes. Incorrect treatment or poor quality dental procedures can cause lip swelling.
• Inflammation. This symptom is characteristic of many diseases, or may be a response to a lip injury.
  Important! If the swelling of the lip is caused by an inflammatory process, then the presence of accompanying symptoms is mandatory. This may include hyperthermia, soreness and a change in color. Also, depending on the etiology, ulcers may appear on them.
• The habit of biting your lip provokes constant mechanical damage, which becomes the main cause of the formation of microcracks and wounds with subsequent infection.
• Hygiene problems. Children begin to learn about the world through their mouths, so it is impossible to maintain proper hygiene of the oral cavity and all objects that the baby puts into his mouth. The entry of bacteria into the mouth provokes the development of inflammatory processes, which can cause the lip to swell.

What to do if your child has a swollen upper lip

If parents know that the condition in question was caused by a blow or insect bite, or an allergy to an external irritant, then you should not consult a doctor. You can apply a cold compress to the area and give the baby one of the usual antihistamines - after 20–30 minutes the swelling will become much less.

But in the case of a tumor of unknown origin or the presence of other changes in the child’s health (weakness, complaints of pain and burning, increased general body temperature), you must immediately contact a pediatrician. The doctor will conduct an initial examination and find out the true cause of this condition. Only after this will he give a referral for examination by a dentist, if required.

In turn, the dentist will visually assess the condition of the oral cavity, make a diagnosis and make medication prescriptions. They can be very different:

• antibacterial drugs;
• antiviral agents;
• antiseptic solutions for irrigating the oral cavity and rinsing it;
• antifungal drugs.

If a child has a swollen upper lip, the doctor will tell you what to do in this situation. Self-medication in this case can cause deterioration of the condition and rapid spread of the inflammatory process. If the cause of the swelling is a purulent focus, then the lack of qualified assistance can lead to serious consequences: damage to the soft tissues and periosteum of the jaw, and general blood poisoning.

Symptoms

In medical practice, swelling on the lips can be localized in any area. Most often in children, its upper part swells. But, regardless of where the swelling is located, this condition can be a sign of a life-threatening condition.

The appearance of swelling on the upper lip, depending on the etiology, may be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Regardless of where the swelling is located, these symptoms may be a sign of a life-threatening condition.

  The anatomical shape of the lips changes.

• Rapid and sudden development of a tumor.
• The appearance of swelling of the mucous membranes of the tongue and oral cavity.
• There is an unpleasant odor from the mouth.
• Increased pain on palpation of the lip and area under the nose.
• Labored breathing.
• Itching sensation on the lips, throat or mouth.
• The skin began to darken and acquire a blue tint.
• High body temperature, chills, fever.
• Sensation of a foreign object in the throat.
• There may be small pimples and blisters on the lips.

Important! If a child shows the slightest sign of swelling on the upper lip, it is necessary to immediately seek qualified medical help. The specialist will be able to correctly determine the cause of swelling and prescribe appropriate treatment to stabilize the child’s condition.

Associated symptoms and what do they indicate?

In addition to the main symptoms, swelling of the lips in a child is always accompanied by additional symptoms.

According to the accompanying manifestations, the diagnosis is made easier:

Important! Regardless of the visual signs, to make an accurate diagnosis it is necessary to undergo a full examination, which includes laboratory testing.

Causes of dental periostitis in children

As already mentioned, this disease is usually secondary and caused by inflammatory processes in the teeth (odontogenic periostitis). What problems can lead to damage to the periosteum?

• dental caries with inflammation of the pulp;
• periodontitis;
• injury to the tooth or jaw.

Inflammation from the soft tissue area spreads deeper, involving the periosteum (fluss = “flow” in German, which perfectly characterizes the infection process).

Types of periostitis of the jaw in children

According to the course of the disease, acute and chronic forms are distinguished. It should be noted that the second is very rare.

Acute periostitis in children is usually purulent in nature - exudate forms under the periosteum, significantly changing the shape of the face, making it asymmetrical. Other symptoms of the disease are described above - increased body temperature, complaints of pain, swollen gums, etc. If the gums are soft and loose, then this is a different case.

Any manifestation of inflammatory processes in the teeth and jaws should be a signal to go to the hospital. And acute purulent periostitis
is a signal to provide immediate assistance
.

The chronic form is manifested by an increase in periosteal tissue, which outwardly looks like a slightly asymmetrical jaw. This usually does not cause discomfort to the child. However, you need to consult a dentist - perhaps dental treatment will help remove the source of inflammation, which will lead to a gradual return of the periosteum to its original healthy state.

Which doctor should I contact for flux?

Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, including periostitis, are treated by a dentist. You can go to a municipal clinic or a private center. In the dental clinic at your place of residence, you will be provided with assistance under the child’s compulsory medical insurance policy

.

If the flux manifests itself on a day off, find the contacts of on-duty municipal clinics in your city. Typically, several offices in different areas are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Or go to a private clinic. In this case, flux treatment may be a little more pleasant, since such organizations are equipped taking into account the mental characteristics of children. The child may be shown a cartoon during the procedure. The staff of private clinics is specially trained to work with young patients. Prices for the treatment of periostitis should be clarified by calling a specific organization.

How is acute periostitis treated in children?

Treatment of the acute form of the disease is possible only with a doctor. No folk remedies, lotions or rinses can defeat flux - it can only make it worse. Separately, it is worth mentioning the dangers of warming up. Heating the painful area can increase the rate at which inflammation spreads, leading to unpredictable consequences. Warming up the flux is strictly prohibited!

Treatment of acute, including purulent, periostitis in children includes, first of all, opening the abscess and removing pus. The gums and periosteum are cut, under which exudate has accumulated. In some cases, drainage is required. The tip of a latex strip is inserted into the wound, which prevents the incision from closing quickly and allows all the pus to leak out. The procedure seems unpleasant, but it is well tolerated.

The doctor also carries out manipulations aimed at minimizing the source of initial inflammation.

In advanced cases, hospitalization will be required.

Also, after opening the wound, draining and sanitizing the oral cavity, the doctor will prescribe antibacterial therapy, possibly immune-supporting drugs.

Children who have undergone treatment for periostitis are advised to drink plenty of fluids, rest, and eat right.

The diet should contain a sufficient amount of protein, vitamins, minerals - calcium, magnesium, iron and others.

Treatment of chronic periostitis in children

This form of the disease is extremely rare in minors. Treatment of chronic periostitis in children is aimed at removing the source of inflammation, reducing tissue proliferation by activating immune processes. Physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed; in advanced cases or if conservative therapy is insufficiently effective, surgical intervention is possible.

Diagnostics

To make an accurate diagnosis and identify the causes of the disease in case of swelling of the upper lip in a child, it is necessary to undergo a timely medical examination.

If rapid swelling occurs, you must urgently call an ambulance or consult an allergist yourself. This condition is dangerous because swelling of the throat can develop, which can result in asphyxia, which can be fatal.

If swelling appears gradually and is accompanied by additional sensations, to eliminate them, you may need the help of doctors such as:

• An examination by any doctor begins with a visual examination.

  Dentist.

• Pediatrician.
• Infectious disease specialist.
• Maxillofacial surgeon.
• Otolaryngologist.
• Oncologist.

An examination by any doctor begins with a visual examination. Then, taking into account the clinical picture, specialists prescribe a series of examinations.

Among them it is worth highlighting:

• Laboratory tests: clinical blood test, flora smear, general blood test, biopsy, biochemical blood test.
• Hardware examination: radiography, ultrasound, MRI or computed tomography.

Important! Timely and complete diagnosis of the pathology will allow you to choose the right treatment. This will significantly reduce the child’s recovery time.

What to do if your lip is swollen - treatment, depending on the cause

If there is swelling on the lip, the therapeutic complex is selected taking into account the main factors that provoked this condition in the baby.

The doctor also takes into account the child’s age and his individual physiological characteristics of the body and health in general.

What to do if your lip is swollen:

• The doctor takes into account the child’s age and his individual physiological characteristics of the body and health in general.

  Herpes virus , in which the mucous membranes are covered with small ulcers and blisters: treatment with peroxide, furatsilin solution, levomikol ointment.

• An allergic reaction is treated with general and local antihistamines.
• Tramming. The damaged area is treated with a disinfectant. Afterwards, the use of wound-healing ointments, essential oils, and propolis is allowed.
• Dental pathologies and errors are treated exclusively by specialists in a specialized clinic.

Important! In most cases, as a universal aid, if a child’s lip is swollen, doctors recommend rinsing the mouth with antisemitic drugs and herbal decoctions.

How to relieve swelling?

When treating swelling of the upper lip in a child, medical practice uses drugs and traditional medicine that have decongestant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antihistamine, and analgesic effects.

Among pharmacological drugs, particular effectiveness is observed in complex treatment, consisting of oral and local medications:

• Self-prescription and incorrect dosage can not only aggravate the development of edema, but also reduce the overall health of the baby

  General drug therapy, depending on the etiology of the cause of swelling , consists of using tablet drugs: Suprastin, Ibuprofen, Rimantadine, Anaferon, Gerpivir.

• Local therapy has a symptomatic effect and stimulates tissue regeneration. Most often in pediatrics, when a child has swollen lips, the following are prescribed: Stomatidin, oxalic ointment, Acyclovir, brilliant green solution, Lamisil, hydrogen peroxide.
• Natural medicines recommended by naturopaths are prepared based on herbal ingredients. Most often in this case they use: aloe juice and pulp, decoctions of medicinal herbs, herbal infusions, beekeeping products, Fuller's earth, baking soda. In addition to the local use of folk remedies, children are recommended to drink herbal teas to strengthen general immunity.

Important! The prescription of medicines and folk remedies should be carried out exclusively by a pediatrician based on the results of the examination. Self-prescription and incorrect dosage can not only aggravate the development of edema, but also reduce the level of overall health of the baby.

Causes of gingivitis in children

There are many causes for childhood gingivitis. The gums become inflamed due to the functional immaturity of their tissues. In babies under one year of age, the cause of the disease is often teething, when the gums become red and sore. Sometimes inflammation is caused by an allergic reaction to food.

In adolescents, the disease may manifest itself due to the eruption of a permanent tooth. When soreness during brushing does not allow this procedure to be performed efficiently, microbes multiply and gum inflammation develops.

The most common factors that provoke the development of gingivitis in older children are:

Action of microbes

In 90% of cases, the disease appears in a child due to insufficient oral hygiene, as a result of which microorganisms multiply intensively, plaque and tartar form, and stomatitis develops.

Mechanical injury

The integrity of the mucous cavity can be compromised by teething, cuts, scratches, burns, biting, improper brushing of teeth, and eating solid foods.

Foci of infection in the oral cavity

If children have carious teeth, there is a chance that they will develop infectious gingivitis, which affects the gums. Therefore, teeth that require treatment must be treated as soon as possible.

Excessive loads on the dental system

Other causes of gum damage in children may include:

• presence of malocclusion;
• poor nutrition with a lack of vegetables and fruits;
• uneven load on the dental system due to bad habits;
• defects of the oral cavity (short frenulum of the tongue, lips);
• the presence of caries, various infections;
• thermal burn from hot food;
• wearing braces.

Possible complications

Most often, a swollen upper lip in a child, with timely and correct medical care, does not pose a danger to the health, much less the life of the child. In most cases, swelling goes away and leaves no negative consequences.

But it is worth noting that neglecting the baby’s condition or not following medical prescriptions can provoke the development of the following negative consequences:

• In most cases, swelling goes away and leaves no negative consequences.

  Having a large scar.

• Eczema in an advanced stage.
• Development of sepsis.
• Life-threatening infection.
• The spread of herpes rash not only over the entire lip area, but also on the face.
• Rapid development of Quincke's edema during an allergic reaction.
• The appearance of a malignant neoplasm.

Important! To prevent the development of complications, treatment of lip swelling in a child must begin at an early stage.

Preventive measures

You can easily prevent the development of puffiness on your lips.

To do this, the following preventive measures must be observed:

• Consume exclusively clean foods.
• Keep your hands and mouth clean.
• Drink vitamin complexes systematically.
• During seasonal exacerbations, take antiviral drugs.
• Avoid trampling.
• Have regular dental checkups.
• Treat dental pathologies in a timely manner only from trusted specialists.
• For allergy sufferers, avoid contact with allergens and always carry antihistamines with you.
• Avoid psycho-emotional stress.
• Minimize stressful conditions.

Important! The main thing in preventing swelling of the upper lip in a child is its regularity. Only with this approach is it possible to avoid the appearance or recurrence of this condition.

Swelling of the lip in a child is not always an independent disease. In most cases, this is a clear sign of more serious pathologies. Therefore, if even the slightest swelling occurs, you must immediately consult a doctor.