Swelling

Emergencies

Yes	Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Rapid swelling of the throat, tongue, mouth, or lips
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Shock
  • Swelling of the lips, tongue, ears, eyelids, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and mucous membranes (angioedema)
  • Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, or feeling of fullness in the mouth or throat
  • Lightheadedness and confusion
  • Nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps
  • Hives and reddening of the skin, which often occur with other symptoms of a severe reaction
• Moderate to severe difficulty breathing
  • In adults and older children
  • In children

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Often the importance of swelling can be determined only when the specific area or cause of swelling is evaluated. If you have swelling in a specific area or from a specific cause, use one of the following topics to evaluate your swelling.

• An allergic reaction: Go to the topic Allergic Reaction.
• Swelling in your face: Go to the topic Facial Problems, Noninjury, Mouth Problems, Noninjury, or Toothache and Gum Problems.
• Swelling from being in the sun or a hot environment: Go to the topic Heat-Related Illnesses or Sunburn.
• Swelling during pregnancy: Go to the topic Pregnancy-Related Problems.
• Swelling in a specific body area: Go to the topic:
  • Arm Problems, Noninjury or Arm Injuries.
  • Finger, Hand, and Wrist Problems, Noninjury or Finger, Hand, and Wrist Injuries.
  • Elbow Problems, Noninjury or Elbow Injuries.
  • Shoulder Problems and Injuries.
  • Hip Problems, Age 12 and Older, Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger, Hip Injuries, Age 12 and Older, or Hip Injuries, Age 11 and Younger.
  • Leg Problems, Noninjury or Leg Injuries.
  • Knee Problems and Injuries.
  • Toe, Foot, and Ankle Problems, Noninjury or Toe, Foot, and Ankle Injuries.
• Abdominal fullness or bloating: Go to the topic Gas, Bloating, and Burping.
• Swelling in the rectal area: Go to the topic Rectal Problems.
• Swelling in your lymph nodes: Go to the topic Swollen Glands.
• Swelling in the groin: Go to the topic Groin Problems.
• For men, swelling in the genital area: Go to the topic Male Genital Problems and Injuries.
• Insect or spider bites or stings: Go to the topic Insect Bites and Stings and Spider Bites.
• Animal or human bites: Go to the topic Animal and Human Bites.
• Burns: Go to the topic Burns.
• Problems after surgery: Go to the topic Postoperative Problems.
• Eye swelling: Go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury or Eye Injuries.

If your health professional has given you instructions on how to treat swelling for your health condition, follow those instructions.

Yes	Do you suspect that your swelling is caused by a medication?
Yes	Do you have swelling that has not gone away and you do not know what has caused it?

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: December 12, 2006
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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