Kids' Health When a Swollen Tongue Is an Allergy Symptom in Children By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO on November 24, 2019 facebook Jonathan B. Jassey, DO, is board-certified in pediatrics. He has been in private practice at Bellmore Merrick Medical in New York since 2007 and is the co-author of "The Newborn Sleep Book." Learn about our Medical Review Board Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Updated on January 08, 2020 Print Allergic reactions are one of those classic pediatric conditions that often scare parents, even when they are causing mild symptoms. Westend61/Getty Images Perhaps it is because most allergy symptoms, especially when caused by a food allergy, insect sting, or allergy to a medication, typically come on suddenly and can cause symptoms that parents aren't used to seeing. Classic Allergy Symptoms Classic allergy symptoms and signs, some mild and some more severe, can include: HivesAngioedema (a swollen tongue or swelling around a child's eyes and lips, etc.)WheezingCongestionCoughDifficulty breathingItching in a child's mouth or throatNauseaVomitingDiarrheaAbdominal painLow blood pressure (hypotension)DizzinessLoss of consciousness Most parents would be concerned if their child had an allergic reaction triggering any of these symptoms. However, mild congestion and coughing—or even hives that quickly come and go—would likely not be as big a worry as some of the other more severe symptoms of an all-out anaphylactic reaction. An anaphylactic reaction, with coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing, itching in the throat, vomiting, and dizziness, is a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention. On the other hand, a child who just has hives and no other symptoms might just need an age-appropriate dose of an antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). Swollen Tongue A swollen tongue can sound like a serious symptom that should be a medical emergency. While a swollen tongue can be serious, it is important to consider what other symptoms your child has at the same time and to consider some of the things that can cause a child's tongue to become swollen. As part of an allergic reaction, a child may get hives on his tongue or lips, in addition to the more classic hives on his skin. An allergic reaction can also trigger another type of swelling that causes a swollen tongue. This type, called angioedema, leads to swelling beneath the surface of the skin, but the result is basically the same—a swollen tongue. Like other allergic reactions, both hives on the tongue and angioedema can be triggered by food allergies, drug allergies, a bite or sting from an insect to which your child is allergic, or almost anything else that can trigger your child's allergies. Without other more serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or swallowing, a swollen tongue is likely a part of a milder allergic reaction, but parents should still call their pediatrician in case their child needs more aggressive treatment. Non-Allergic Causes In addition to allergies, non-allergic causes of a swollen tongue can include: An infection in or on the tongueA tumor or massAn insect bite or sting on the tongue that causes swelling, even though it might not trigger an allergic reaction Keep in mind that these other causes either occur slowly over time, or it is a little more obvious why your child's tongue is swollen. For example, he may have had a viral infection that caused ulcers on his tongue and then triggered a secondary bacterial infection, or he may have told you he got stung on his tongue by a bee. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Allergy symptoms in children. U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Food allergy. Reviewed October 24, 2018. Nicklaus Children's Hospital. Tongue problems. Additional Reading Adkinson: Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice, 6th ed. Mosby; 2007. Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed. Saunders; 2011.