Facial swelling

Facial swelling

Definition:

An accumulation of fluid in the face, which may extend to the neck and upper arms.

Alternative Names:

Puffy face; Swelling of the face; Moon face; Facial edema

Considerations:

If the facial swelling is mild, it may be hard to detect. To assist the doctor in diagnosing the cause of facial swelling, it is important to note whether or not there is pain, the duration of the swelling, what makes it better or worse, and other symptoms that accompany the swelling.

Common Causes:

obesity
allergic reaction (such as allergic rhinitis, hay fever, or a bee sting)
conjunctivitis with swelling around the eye(s)
hordeolum (stye) with swelling around the infected eye
malnutrition (when severe)
sinusitis
facial trauma or injury (burns)
drugs including prolonged use or allergic reaction to aspirin, antipyretics, penicillin, sulfa, glucocorticoids, or other drugs
blood transfusion reaction
head, nose, or jaw surgery
angioedema from any cause including reaction to contrast media from radiologic tests

Home Care:

Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling from an injury. Raise the head of the bed (or use extra pillows) to help reduce facial swelling.

Call your health care provider if:

there is acute, sudden, painful, or severe facial swelling.
there is prolonged facial swelling, particularly if it is getting worse over time.
there is any difficulty breathing.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

If facial swelling is caused by burns and/or respiratory distress is present, emergency measures must be taken first. Then the medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting facial swelling in detail may include:

time pattern
- How long has the facial swelling lasted?
- When did it begin?
aggravating factors
- What makes it worse?
relieving factors
- What makes it better?
general health
- What is the height and weight?
- How has the diet been?
other
- Has there been exposure to something to which the person may be allergic (an antigen)?
- What medication is being taken?
- Has there been recent facial injury?
- Has there been a recent test or surgical procedure?
- What other symptoms are also present? Especially, is there:
  - facial pain
  - sneezing
  - difficulty breathing
  - hives or rash
  - eye redness
  - fever

Diagnostic tests will be determined by other accompanying symptoms and results of the physical examination.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to facial swelling, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.

Review Date: 12/3/2001
Reviewed By: Steven Angelo, M.D. Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, Hospital of Saint Raphael, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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