My 17 month old has swelling on upper cheek/ear area.....dr prescribed oral omnicef (cefdinir). what else can that be and what do i lookout for?

Fever, lymphadenitis: if it's a cellulitis, you will likely only see fever, more swelling, redness, and lymph node swelling, if you are treating with antibiotics. If it gets worse switch meds. Other problems in that area include mumps, a soft tissue mass, bug bites, allergic responses, and rare lymphatic disorders. Your oediatrician should be aware of these if your child had a good exam and is being treated

Rx'd an antibiotic: Omnicef (cefdinir) is an antibiotic, presumably prescribed to treat infection. It is generally not a first choice for skin infections such as cellulitis but is frequently used to treat various infections of the ears, sinuses and respiratory systems. Only your treating doctor can answer specifically. People on antibiotics should experience improvement within a few days.