Facial injury help!

[unicorn]

Have spent another day in A+E as the right hand side of dd1 (5yrs) face started swelling up again.

Originally thought it was an abscess... earlier thread

but don't think so now...(doctors' said there would have been some evidence- in blood test)
everyone is baffled... but seems a bit like a facial injury (when she fell out of her cabin bed possibly) - spent 6 hours in hospital on Saturday - she has antibiotics, and pain killers, and we have been referred to another hospital- for a more indepth scan.

DD seems to be suffering when she lays down on that side of the face,which suggests some sort of facial injury.

Anyone any experience of this sort of injury or any ideas as to how to help?

[jasper]

Has she been seen by a dentist since the last time it swelled up?

Your description is exactly how dental abscesses related to upper baby molars present.The swelling appears quickly and sometimes the eye closes over partially or in severe cases completely.

Many doctors don't know anything at all about teeth and would not be able to diagnose this.

Several of my dental patients have gone to casualty departments with facial swellings caused by dental problems and not had the correct diagnosis.

Our wonderful oral surgeon teacher taught us to diagnose what tooth was the problem before the patient got as far as the chair, just from the location of the swelling on the face.

Of course it might be nothing to do with her teeth but you would need to see a dentist to exclude this possibility.
Hopefully it is a dental problem as the solution is simple (extraction).
Please keep us informed of her progress.

[unicorn]

thanks jasper..
went to the dentist after the first A+E visit and he could see nothing wrong with tooth- and didn't suspect abscess.. but also said there was nothing he could do with the swelling so bad...
After antibiotics kicked in she was ok all last week... the Sat morning she wakes up with swelling again.

A+E had the paed doctors (3 doctors in all!!) check her (blood+ urine, temp etc)..no infection obvious.
They seem to be completely unsure as to what is is - which makes them think it may be a 'facial trauma'

[color]

just seen this, hope they find out what is wrong v v soon.

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Only just seen this unicorn, didn't realised it had kicked off again. Your poor dd - hope someone works out what it is soon.

[prufrock]

Unicorn - have they ruled out mastoiditis - just because you mentioned a problem behind her ear and I remember Senorapostrophes dd having it last year.

[unicorn]

what's mastoiditis prufrock?,, it hasn't been mentioned...
but we have a referral to a maxillofacial unit at another hospital tomorrow.
Jasper.. or any medics what can we expect here?

DD was in real discomfort last night- seemed to really hurt when she was lying on that side.
But this morning the swelling had gone down.. must be related to the antibiotics?

[JJ]

Just seen this could it be cellulitis? I've had that before and it's painful and horrid. It does start because of infected scratch or so I was told. Is it peeling and raw? Mine was, but I don't know if that's what happens in every case, esp if diagnosed early (mine wasn't my own damn fault, though).

Here's a link to some links...

Antibiotics worked for me, hope they do for your daughter, too.

[Sozie]

I worked with someone who suddenly developed swelling which would come and go - it was related to saliva glands and would flair up when she chewed food. It was treated quickly onced diagnosed. Just a thought [shrug]

[unicorn]

ahhhhhh..
Nobody knows what is causing it!
We waited 2 hours for a 10 minute consultation this morning - to be told, a)we should have been referred to the previous hospital (would have saved a lot of time/hassle) and b) the swelling could be 'just one of those things!!!'...what the hell does that mean?!!

We have to go back next tuesday.. for them to check it again.

[prufrock]

IIRC it's an infection of the earbone? But it probably would have shown up in blood tests. It involves welling by or behind the ear and can be dangerous if not treated. But treatment only involves antibiotics and you are on them anyway.

[unicorn]

cheers prufrock.. but seems to be no evidence of infection... which is what is baffling everyone.
(btw I finally posted the tape today!!)

[JJ]

Are they saying "ideopathic angioedema"? That's face swelling without a cause. I had that after the cellulitis (have an immune systems that has iss-shoos with me and that tends to happen). They gave me antihistamines and steroids for an attack. Those worked really well.

Anyway, if you'd like more info on that, just ask.

[karen99]

Not sure if this can help. Hope your dd gets better soon.

[unicorn]

wow.. brilliant.. karen99.. lots to look at there!!

jj.. very interesting too...will look into that.

Thanks everyone..you have more ideas than the medics!!!

fingers crossed dd will have a better sleep tonight.

[karen99]

How are things today Unicorn?

[unicorn]

update..(of sorts)
dd's cheek swelling has all but gone, and she is no longer complaining of pain...her antibiotics finish today, so I await to see if it all flares up again at the weekend.

I sincerely hope not, but would love to know what is going on.

Thanks for all the help/concern.

[JanH]

unicorn, I missed that this was still going on - glad it's not hurting any more and I hope the swelling continues to go down until it's all gone, poor love. Fingers crossed!