sofidexFor patientsAre you a clinician? Clinical site

Warning-sign checks

Uvulitis: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services now if you have:

    • Difficulty breathing, noisy breathing, wheezing, or a feeling that the airway is closing
    • Rapidly increasing swelling of the uvula, tongue, lips, face, or throat
    • Inability to swallow saliva, especially with drooling
    • Faintness, confusion, blue or grey lips, or collapse
    • Throat swelling with hives, vomiting, dizziness, or another sign of anaphylaxis

    Call emergency services afterward, even if the symptoms begin to improve.

    A child who is drooling, struggling to breathe, or sitting forward to breathe needs emergency assessment.

    Do not force an examination of the child’s throat.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Use prescribed epinephrine immediately if your allergy action plan tells you to.

    Seek urgent same-day medical care for severe throat pain, a muffled voice, neck swelling, difficulty opening the mouth, dehydration, or a high fever with worsening symptoms.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical care if symptoms are mild but are not improving, keep returning, or follow a new medicine.

    Recurrent swelling without an obvious infection should also be assessed.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Uvulitis. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.