Swelling of lymph nodes in the CHILD

Lymph account swellings on the neck in children are very common as a natural defense reaction and rarely give cause for concern.In children, the immune system has yet to develop because it is constantly coming into contact with previously unknown pathogens. This is why children who have a cold or, for example, tonsillitis often suffer from particularly pronounced swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck. Pfeiffer’s glandular fever (medical term: mononucleosis) triggered by the Ebstein-Bar virus is a typical example.

But even a normal flu-like infection can be enough to cause the neck lymph nodes to swell significantly. Once the disease has healed, the swelling of the lymph nodes normally subsides. In unvaccinated children, swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck can also be a sign of diseases such as mumps, measles or rubella.

Another rare but typical disease in children with enlarged neck lymph nodes is Kawasaki’s syndrome. This vascular inflammation usually causes high fever and inflammation of the throat and conjunctiva of the eye. Certain drugs can also cause swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck in children.

One-sided swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck is also the most likely indication in children of a defensive reaction against an inflammation in the adjacent area (mouth, nose, throat). These lymph node swellings are then a concomitant symptom of banal infections. In these cases, the lymph nodes are painful under pressure, easily movable and possibly directly related to a visible or noticeable disease (e.g. a cold with a cold and sore throat).

As a rule, the lymph nodes should also swell again after the triggering infection has subsided. Local infections, for example of the oral mucosa, teeth, skin in general or in the ear, nose and throat area, usually cause unilateral swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, even in children. The infections are usually caused by bacterial pathogens, so in some cases antibiotic therapy is indicated.

Once the underlying disease has healed, the swelling of the lymph nodes should also decrease. In some cases, inflammation of the lymph nodes may also be responsible for the swelling. This lymphadenitis occurs at only one site and is accompanied by reddened skin and fever.

In this case a pediatrician should be consulted, because the inflammation of the lymph nodes must be treated with antibiotics and in rare cases the lymph nodes must be surgically removed. A special disease is the Kawasaki syndrome, which describes an inflammation of the blood vessels. In addition to the swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, high fever occurs over several days.

Furthermore, the lips are reddened and cracked. The redness is also found on the eyes, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. In this case, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

The children often have to be taken to hospital and treated with blood-thinning medication and immunoglobulins (antibodies). Numerous pathogens cause generalized lymph node swelling throughout the body, which naturally also affects the cervical lymph nodes. Especially in children, such generalized lymph node swelling can occur during infections with the childhood diseases measles and rubella.

EBV and CMV viruses also trigger the same symptoms. Less frequent are malignant degenerations of the lymph nodes (lymphomas, malignancies), in which the lymph nodes are also swollen in several places, not only in the neck. You can find detailed information on this topic at Swollen lymph nodes in children