Associated symptoms | Swollen lip

Associated symptoms

Depending on the cause, in addition to lip swelling, characteristic accompanying symptoms such as blisters and bleeding spots may occur. Other accompanying symptoms often point to complications and should always be examined and treated by a physician.In the context of an allergy, a so-called angioedema can occur. It is also known as Quinke’s edema.

This is a sudden, painless swelling, mostly in the facial area, often on the eyelids, tongue or lip. In some cases, feet and hands also swell. But the tongue and throat can also be affected.

If this swells, it can lead to life-threatening shortness of breath. In the worst case, a so-called anaphylactic shock develops with a drop in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. This is an emergency and must be treated immediately!

If the swollen lips were caused by an injury, there may also be injured vessels, nerves and bones in the area of the face. If a swelling of the lips caused by a herpes infection results in a change of consciousness or paralysis, an emergency doctor must be consulted immediately! In this case it is possible that the herpes virus has migrated into the brain and caused an inflammation of the brain. In the worst case, the viruses spread systematically in the body and lead to sepsis. This is an absolute emergency and must be treated immediately!

Swollen lips with blisters

Swelling of the lips and the simultaneous appearance of painful white blisters that form and tingling, known as erosions, usually indicate a herpes infection, a so-called herpes labiales. However, blisters can also occur in the context of sunburn on the lips or fever. These blisters are however rather transparent. They often cause severe pain. But they do not usually cause the characteristic tingling sensation that is characteristic of a herpes infection.

Diagnosis

In order to find a diagnosis, it is first of all important to conduct a detailed interview with the person concerned. The doctor will take a close look at the lips. Often the cause can already be deduced from looking at them.

Thus, an insect bite is clearly visible through the bite site. In the case of injuries caused by an accident or in the course of an epileptic seizure, the cause is quickly obvious through questioning. In both cases it is important to exclude further invisible injuries.

If fractures are suspected, an X-ray examination is necessary and in some cases computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are also advisable. In a herpes infection, the characteristic blisters are usually clearly visible. In the case of lip swelling caused by an allergy, an allergy test may be required in addition to the so-called allergy history.

In the context of allergic reactions or infections, lip swelling can occur due to the overreaction of the immune system. Often, additional swelling of the eyelids occurs. These can be painless, but also painful.

Depending on how severe the swelling is, it can be difficult to open the eyes completely. If eyelid swelling occurs in addition to the lip swelling, this should always be clarified and treated by a doctor. A swollen lip with accompanying numbness can occur, for example after dental treatment with local anesthesia.

However, swelling of the lips after dental treatment is rare. If neither of these symptoms disappears within a reasonable period of time – depending on the treatment, after a few hours or 1-2 days – the dentist should be consulted again. If swelling of the lips occurs in combination with swelling of the lymph nodes, it usually conceals inflammatory reactions. Swollen lymph nodes are a reaction of the immune system and show that the body is fighting against bacteria, viruses or a substance that is “classified as dangerous”. Depending on which accompanying symptoms occur in addition, appropriate measures must be taken.