Arriving at the appointment with the pediatrician, you will notice that the doctor must inspect his neck, under the chin and behind the ears during the examination. With these manipulations, he checks the lymph nodes, because their increase can indicate serious violations in the work of the child's body, requiring a thorough examination and identification of the cause. Many parents are wondering - if the lymph node on the neck of a child has become inflamed, what should I do? First you need to understand what the immune system is and what place the lymph nodes occupy in it.
What are lymph nodes
In simple words, lymph nodes are an essential part of the immune system. This is a kind of filters on which toxins and other substances dangerous to the body settle. Here they are neutralized by antibodies and excreted from the body. Due to this, the lymph is cleansed. Lymph nodes are also producers of lymphocytes.
Normally, the size of the lymph nodes does not exceed 1 cm and is practically not palpable during palpation. If their increase, and sometimes soreness, became noticeable, this can indicate that there is a serious struggle with pathogenic bacteria. If there are a lot of pathogenic bacteria and it is difficult, and sometimes impossible to cope with them, then the lymph nodes begin to redden, become inflamed and grow in size, since when an infection or virus enters the body, the cells of the immune system move in large numbers here.
Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body and are located next to large vessels, veins and near organs. If the child has a lymph node in the neck, then the cause must be found.
Cervical lymph nodes
Several formations of lymph nodes are distinguished on the neck, depending on their location.
- Parotid.
- Sublingual.
- Submandibular.
- Supraclavicular.
- Front cervical.
- Back cervical.
- Chin.
- Pharyngeal.
Lymph nodes of these localizations are responsible for the health of the throat, ears, nasopharynx, head, neck (including bone and muscle structures).
- Inflammation of the pharyngeal lymph nodes may indicate an inflammatory process in the pharynx.
- Increased submandibular - there is a risk of infection of the mouth or face.
- If the lymph nodes on the side or back of the neck become inflamed, then this indicates an infection in nearby organs - the respiratory tract, larynx, etc.
- Occipital lymph nodes with an increase can indicate a viral infection in the body.
- Parotid - most likely there is inflammation in the organs of hearing
- An increase in the lymph node located under the jaw in the center of the neck indicates the possibility of a sore throat, toxoplasmosis, etc.
If the lymph node on the neck of a child becomes inflamed, this is not always a sign of a serious illness. For example, in children under three years of age, a slight increase may be the norm, since at this age the formation of the immune system occurs. But nevertheless, it is worthwhile to see a doctor to exclude pathological processes in the body, since an increase of up to 2 cm indicates the onset of the inflammatory process in the body. This condition is called lymphadenitis.
Photo of neck lymphadenitis
The photo below shows lymph nodes in the neck of a child in the stage of lymphadenitis. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will be discussed later.
Possible causes of lymph node inflammation
It is immediately worth noting that inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck can be either unilateral or bilateral. If the change in size has occurred on the one hand, this indicates a local infection, but on the other hand, the infection has affected the whole organism.
If there is inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck in a child, the causes may be different. The most common are:
- Infectious processes in the throat, respiratory tract and nose. In this case, the lymph node closest to the affected organ is inflamed. Such diseases as rhinitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis can provoke an increase.
- Cold illnesses and viruses. In this case, if the body is not able to fully combat the common cold, inflammation may remain for some time after recovery.
- The presence of bacterial infections.
- Mononucleosis. This disease can initially be mistaken for a sore throat. The submandibular lymph nodes become inflamed, the temperature rises.
- Bites and scratches of animals. Under their claws and in saliva are pathogenic microbes that, when they enter the bloodstream, cause inflammatory processes.
- Severe allergic reaction.
- Malfunctions in the immune system.
- Toxoplasmosis.
Also, inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck in a child is caused by:
- Purulent diseases.
- The formation of tumors.
- Infectious diseases such as measles, scarlet fever.
- Pathological processes in the oral cavity.
- Vaccinations.
Symptoms of neck lymphadenitis
Typically, the symptoms of inflammation of the lymph node in the neck in a child are quite bright. The stronger the inflammatory process in the body, the brighter the symptoms appear.
The main signs of the development of lymphadenitis on the neck are distinguished:
- Lymph nodes increase in size.
- Pain may appear. If it becomes so intense that it hurts the child to swallow and turn his head, you should immediately go to the hospital to stop the inflammatory process.
- With inflammation, the lymph node becomes dense, if it becomes more loose, suppuration begins.
- Redness of the skin in the area of the lymph node.
- The child has a fever.
- Sometimes chills, weakness.
- Headache.
Features
The inflamed lymph node should resemble a dense ball that rolls easily under the fingers. It should not be loose or as if adhered to other tissues. Detection of inflammation of the lymph nodes of different locations can indicate a serious infectious disease, blood diseases, malignant tumors. Particular attention should be paid to situations where there was a simultaneous increase in the lymph nodes of several groups.
Diagnostics
Since inflammation of the lymph nodes is not an independent disease, but a sign of a more serious pathological process occurring in the body, the diagnosis will be aimed at finding out the cause that provoked their increase.
The most common diagnostic methods are:
- palpation of the lymph node in order to determine the size, structure, etc.
- blood and urine tests to understand the nature of the disease;
- ultrasound procedure;
- Mantoux test;
- radiography, which will detect hidden lymph nodes;
- in chronic lymphadenitis, a biopsy is required (sampling of the contents of the node);
- CT scan;
- MRI
After appropriate research and diagnosis, the optimal treatment for a particular child is prescribed.
Specialists
If lymphadenitis is suspected, consultation with specialized specialists may be required to determine the most accurate diagnosis and treatment. Such specialists are
- infectious disease specialist;
- surgeon;
- oncologist;
- ENT;
- immunologist;
- dermatologist.
Lymphadenitis treatment
If the lymph node on the neck is inflamed, what should I do? To begin with, it should be noted that it is not recommended to independently treat lymphadenitis, since improper therapy can only harm the baby.
With inflammation of the lymph nodes in the child’s neck, treatment is usually prescribed as a conservative type, with the exception of suppuration and malignant tumors - in these cases, surgical intervention is required.
The necessary therapy is prescribed after identifying the root cause and nature of the inflammation. In most cases, are assigned:
- antibiotic therapy;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- antihistamines;
- immunomodulators;
- special diet (excluded foods that can provoke irritation of the nasopharynx - carbonated drinks, solid foods, spicy foods, etc.);
- vitamin therapy;
- for diseases of the throat, rinses can be prescribed.
Having received the advice of a doctor and having passed all the necessary tests, treatment of lymph nodes in the neck in children should be started as soon as possible.
As a rule, with inflammation of a single lymph node, a blood test with a leukocyte formula is prescribed. By its result, one can judge the nature of inflammation and prescribe the appropriate treatment. With a viral infection, in most cases, the body is able to cope on its own. But then careful monitoring of the baby’s condition is necessary.
Surgical intervention
If the medications did not help, and rapid suppuration began, the doctor may decide on the need for a surgical treatment.
Under general anesthesia, the affected lymph node is opened, destroyed tissue and pus are removed. Then, after treatment with an antiseptic, the organ is sutured. After that, a drainage tube is inserted to leave the residual pus. Sometimes an antiseptic may be required.
In the oncological process, the treatment method is determined by the oncologist individually.
What can not be done with an increase in lymph nodes
Very often, with inflammation of the lymph nodes in the child’s neck, parents begin to treat them themselves, while making many mistakes that can harm the children's body. There are several categorical contraindications in the treatment of inflamed lymph nodes:
- Heating. In no case should they be warmed up, smeared with warming ointments, as this can start the process of suppuration. Also, under the influence of temperature, lymph flow accelerates, and pathogenic microbes spread faster throughout the body.
- Trituration.
- Drawing an iodine grid.
- The use of alcohol compresses in the area of inflammation is prohibited.
- You can not massage the lymph node, since this can accelerate its growth and provoke a gap with the release of pus.
Folk remedies in the treatment of lymphadenitis
The use of any folk remedies is possible only after the consent of the doctor and the absence of allergic reactions.
Well established themselves:
- decoctions of oats in milk;
- herbal teas - hawthorn, mint;
- fruit drinks from lingonberries, cranberries and other berries rich in vitamin C;
- beetroot juice.
Preventative measures
Since the enlargement of the lymph nodes is a response of the immune system, it is necessary, first of all, to strengthen the immune system as a prophylaxis. This will allow the body to quickly detect inflammation and eliminate the cause. Also, parents should follow a number of recommendations in order to exclude the possibility of developing any kind of inflammatory process.
General prevention:
- strengthening immunity through hardening, daily walks in the fresh air, sunbathing;
- in the spring-autumn period, course vitamin therapy is recommended;
- continuous monitoring of the oral cavity and timely elimination of dental problems;
- any diseases, especially of an infectious nature, must be treated to the end, because it is because of chronic diseases that most often cause chronic lymphadenitis;
- if the skin is damaged, proper treatment of wounds is necessary to avoid infection;
- it is necessary to avoid hypothermia;
- nutrition should be balanced;
- there must also be parental control over the health status of the child; with an increase in lymph nodes, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible to identify the cause and begin treatment.
At risk due to inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes are children who suffer from diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract more than 6 times a year. In these cases, the doctor’s supervision should be more thorough.
Finally
Basically, if the enlargement of the lymph nodes was noticed at an early stage, then after a certain treatment the ailment passes very quickly. But it is worth noting that this symptom cannot be ignored. Despite the fact that in some cases the enlargement of the lymph nodes can go away on their own, it is worthwhile to consult a doctor and take the necessary tests, as this may indicate a serious pathological process that began in the child’s body.