Mouth Problems, Noninjury
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Do you have cracking, splitting, or chapping at the corners of your mouth or on your lips?
See significance of cracking, splitting, or chapping at the corners of your mouth or on your lips if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have increased mouth or lip pain, swelling, redness, or warmth?
Yes Is the area around your mouth and lip increasingly tender to the touch?
Yes Do you have pus draining in or around your mouth or lip?
Yes Do you know or think you have a fever?
Yes Do you have cracking or splitting on, around, or near your lips with crusty, honey-colored drainage?
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) around the cracking, splitting, or chapping for 24 hours or longer?
Yes Have you had swollen gland (lymph node) in the neck or under the jaw for 24 hours or longer?
Yes Do you have painful cracking and splitting that has not improved with 48 hours of home treatment?
Yes Do you have severely chapped lips that have not improved with 3 to 4 days of home treatment?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA | Last Updated: December 1, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Steven K. Patterson, BSc, DDS, MPH - Dentist | |
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