2-Year-Old Child Slapped in the Face, No Bruises or Crying, But One Side of the Face Is Higher Than the Other After 10 Days. Could It Be a Soft Tissue Injury?

Question

A 2-year-old child was slapped in the face, but there are no bruises or crying. The child says it doesn’t hurt, but one side of the face is higher than the other. It’s been 10 days and it’s still not getting better. Could it be a soft tissue injury? How long will it take to heal?

Answer

Based on the description, it is recommended to seek medical attention for a regional ultrasound examination to understand the injury and receive appropriate treatment. At the same time, precautions should be taken to avoid further force, and cold compresses can be applied to observe the healing of the wound. It is noteworthy that slapping a child’s face with an open palm is not recommended as it may lead to severe consequences such as intracranial hemorrhage. For soft tissue injuries, cold compresses are generally applied within 24 hours after the injury, and heat compresses can be applied after 24 hours to accelerate recovery. The time for complete recovery is approximately 1 to 2 weeks.