Q:

Over the last 5 or so days all the glands in my mouth were swollen and painful while the side of my tongue felt a little swollen. Today I woke up with the glands and my tongue feeling pretty okay, but my lips were swollen, chapped and painful. It doesn't look like I bit them or a bug bit them. If it is a flu symptom I have never had this happen before. I took a Benadryl to see if it was some random allergic reaction, but nothing is happening at the moment.

 

A:

There is some kind of inflammatory reaction happening, most likely a viral infection, or possibly staph or strep.  When you get this response to this message, if it is still causing swelling of the lips, we need to see you first thing Monday morning.

Ask the Doc is not the best way to ask for input on an acute, possibly urgent illness as there is no way to track you down, respond to you urgently or directly.  Use the consulting nurse line from our clinic phone number or use our virtual visit form, so that we can contact you directly.

~The Doc