On the human body there are seals that can be felt by hand or even seen. They are called lymph nodes. Passing through such seals, the lymph is cleansed. During illness, inflammation, an increase in the lymph node in the child occurs. Why this happens and what to do, this article will tell.
What are lymph nodes for?
Lymph nodes play an important role in a child’s health and immunity. The main task of the nodes is to cleanse the body of bacteria, viruses, foreign cells. Lymphocytes produced in the body defend the health of the child. During the disease, the lymph nodes can increase, as they urgently need to produce an army of additional cells to fight foreign bodies.
Nodules are located throughout the body. On the neck, behind the ears, in the groin, in the armpits, on the stomach. In a newborn, it is almost impossible to probe the nodules, but by the year a healthy baby should have a doctor to probe the lymph nodes.
Lymph nodes are only a few millimeters in size . They are located in groups in certain places. The doctor during the illness will surely check them for an increase and make a conclusion about the condition of the child. An enlarged lymph node in the baby in the neck indicates a throat disease, in the ears - the presence of a viral infection. As a rule, changing nodes in itself is not dangerous. Sometimes children have lymphadenitis - an increase in lymph nodes throughout the body. The disease manifests itself with reduced immunity or with the appearance of malignant tumors in the body.
Symptoms of enlarged lymph nodes
Normally, an increase in the nodes on the neck should not exceed 1 cm. Deviation to the greater side indicates the presence of infection in the body. When probing, pain should not occur, the lymph nodes have a dense structure and can easily be moved. These signs indicate a normal human condition and do not require additional examinations.
The main symptoms of enlarged lymph nodes in a child are:
- pain on palpation;
- tuberosity;
- friability;
- acquisition of irregular shape.
Sometimes the skin around becomes inflamed and turns red. In some cases, the nodules increase so much that they become visible.
Changing the size of the lymph nodes
At the appointment with the pediatrician, if there are complaints, the doctor will definitely examine the lymph nodes. If the increase in cervical lymph nodes in children occurred by more than 1 cm, and inguinal by 1.5 cm, then it can be argued that the body has an inflammatory process.
Even in children under one year of age, the size of the nodules changes during the illness, but they are so small that it is not always possible to probe them. During the fight against foreign cells, lymphocytes are activated and begin to fight. If there are a lot of pathogenic bacteria and the body cannot cope, then the lymph nodes increase in size.
In children under 3 years of age, a slight increase in lymph nodes is permissible due to imperfections in the immune system. If there are no other manifestations of inflammation, then there is no need to treat the child.
Where are the lymph nodes
In children, the lymph nodes are in the same places as in adults. The largest group is called cervical lymph nodes - they are located in the following places:
- on the back of the head;
- behind the ears;
- over the collarbone;
- under the lower jaw;
- on the chin;
- in the upper triangle of the neck ;
- behind the neck.
In addition, nodules are located throughout the body:
- under the collarbone;
- armpits;
- on the chest;
- in the elbows;
- in the groin;
- under the knees.
Thus, the lymph nodes actively collect unnecessary substances and cleanse the entire body. Each cluster of lymphocyte producers is responsible for its body part. Therefore, an increase in lymph nodes in a child helps doctors determine what is happening in the body.
Reasons for the increase
The reasons for the increase in lymph nodes in children can be different, most often there is nothing dangerous about this. The body fights viruses and triggers the immune system. But prolonged or excessive swollen lymph nodes can indicate serious problems. The main reasons for changing nodes:
- The increase is due to hormonal changes, active growth, the formation of the immune system. The condition is characteristic of children under 3 years of age and adolescents.
- After scratching cats and introducing bacteria into the wound. There is a state of lymphadenitis.
- With a decrease in immunity due to infections, in the autumn-winter period, with chronic diseases.
- During teething, with diseases of the oral cavity.
- Due to hypothermia.
- Mononucleosis occurs when the Epstein-Barr virus is present in the blood and is characterized by a strong increase in nodes in the neck.
- With oncological neoplasms.
- With diseases of the thyroid gland.
- During autoimmune diseases, in which the body takes its own cells as strangers.
- If a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection is detected.
Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
Infections of the upper respiratory tract or throat may be the cause of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck in children. Changes can occur with colds, SARS, but sometimes this is a sign of measles, rubella, flu. Therefore, with the onset of symptoms of the disease and an increase in lymph nodes, a pediatrician consultation is required.
With an increase in nodules on the neck during palpation, you can find a pea with a diameter of more than a centimeter. This causes pain when pressed. With severe inflammation, the diameter of the peas reaches the size of a chicken egg.
Typically, the lymph nodes do not enlarge without additional symptoms:
- increase in body temperature;
- weakness;
- headache;
- joint pain
- drowsiness;
- digestive disorders.
But if there are no signs of the disease, then you should still consult a doctor to find out the reason for the increase in the lymph node in the child.
The main diseases in which there is a change in the lymph nodes:
- tonsillitis;
- pharyngitis;
- periodontitis;
- gingivitis;
- candidiasis;
- tuberculosis;
- rubella;
- viral infections;
- allergic reactions;
- purulent wounds on the head.
With an increase in nodes on the neck, in some cases there is pain when swallowing, discomfort when turning the head, swelling of the neck. When large nodules appear on the neck, it is necessary to show the child to the pediatrician to find out the reason for the increase in lymph nodes in children. Self-treatment is unacceptable, as you can lubricate the symptoms, and it will be more difficult for doctors to diagnose ..
Changes in the inguinal lymph nodes
An increase in the lymph nodes in the groin of a child indicates an inflammatory process. The reasons for changing the lymph in the groin are the following diseases:
- abscess of the perineum or legs;
- tumors;
- fungal diseases;
- the presence of parasites in the body;
- suppuration, trophic ulcers;
- abrasions, deep wounds;
- sexually transmitted or intrauterine diseases.
With a decrease in immunity, the lymph nodes increase even with colds, SARS. A small change in size does not cause inconvenience, but nodules can reach several centimeters in size, and the child will encounter the following inconveniences:
- heaviness in the inguinal region;
- pain while walking;
- redness of the skin;
- local increase in body temperature.
When a purulent process appears, the following symptoms may be added:
- increase in general body temperature;
- the appearance in the skin of fistulas from which purulent contents come out;
- headache;
- signs of intoxication;
- severe pain with pressure;
- immobility of the lymph node.
With these signs of the child, it is urgent to show the doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Abdominal lymph nodes
An increase in abdominal lymph nodes in a child indicates that inflammation has begun in the abdominal cavity. Foreign substances when ingested cause lymphocytes to be produced. For this reason, an increase in nodes occurs. Sometimes inflammation begins in one or several lymph nodes.
Inflammation is not an independent disease. This is an indicator that not everything is safe in the body. An increase in mesenteric lymph nodes in children cannot be diagnosed without laboratory tests.
The reasons for the increase in nodules can be various:
- the presence of parasites;
- tuberculosis;
- mycoplasmosis;
- Epstein virus - Barr;
- streptococci and staphylococci;
- enterovirus infection.
Symptoms may be absent for a long time. In the acute course, acute pain begins, the patient can not always determine where it hurts. Diagnosis can be confused with appendicitis if the pain is localized in the lower abdomen. Symptoms occur that are characteristic of many diseases:
- temperature rise;
- discomfort in the abdomen;
- diarrhea;
- tachycardia;
- enlarged liver;
- nausea.
If the lymph node begins to fester, then this can lead to serious consequences. In the chronic form, the symptoms are invisible or absent, so the child’s parents do not immediately contact the doctor.
This pathology is characteristic of children aged 6 to 12 years, boys are sick more often than girls. With an increase in the lymph nodes in the child and the appearance of pain, it is necessary to show the baby to the pediatrician. If untreated, there is a risk of peritonitis due to suppuration of nodules.
Lymph node inflammation
Sometimes the lymph nodes enlarge without other signs of the disease and do not decrease further. In this case, the child will be diagnosed with an adenovirus or one of the herpes viruses, including the cytomegalovirus Epstein-Barr, which is the cause of a disease such as mononucleosis.
Frequent complaints from parents are swollen lymph nodes in the ears of children. In children, immunity is formed, and therefore an increased number of lymphocytes can be a normal reaction. Most likely, with age, the nodules behind the ears will return to their original size without treatment. To control and exclude inflammation, it is enough to conduct a general blood test 2 times a year with the calculation of the leukocyte formula.
Treatment
With an increase in lymph nodes in children, treatment is not always required. The main indicators of inflammation is an increased content of leukocytes and ESR in the blood. If the node has increased significantly and does not disappear within 5 days, then a pediatrician consultation is required. Treatment is necessary in the following cases:
- the child has increased several groups of lymph nodes;
- the bulge became dense;
- within 5 days, the nodes are not reduced;
- acute pain when palpating;
- redness of the skin;
- fever;
- rapid increase in nodules.
After the diagnosis and examination, the doctor prescribes medications aimed at relieving inflammation. Lymph nodes are often enlarged in children, but at home you should not independently determine the degree of danger. The child must be shown to the pediatrician. If pus is detected, a lymph node biopsy is possible.
The treatment methods for inflamed lymph nodes are as follows:
- antiviral drugs;
- chemotherapy for malignant neoplasms;
- antihistamines;
- surgical intervention with the ineffectiveness of other methods.
Prevention and reviews
An increase in lymph nodes in the disease cannot be avoided. But there are a number of actions that prevent lymphadenitis:
- compliance with hygiene rules;
- treatment of wounds and scratches, especially those received from animals;
- strengthening immunity;
- hardening;
- proper nutrition;
- intake of vitamins;
- the content in the diet of a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables;
- passing preventive medical examinations;
- avoid subcooling;
- timely visits to the dentist to exclude diseases of the oral cavity.
Reviews of patients after treatment of inflamed lymph nodes are mostly positive. After the courses, the nodules are reduced and returned to their original size. In some cases, changes do not occur, since the true cause is not found.