In the article, we will figure out which doctor treats the lymph nodes. We also find out in which cases there is an increase and inflammation.
Lymph nodes in a healthy person are almost invisible: their size is small, they are not felt during movement and do not cause pain to the patient. But at some point they can become inflamed and increase. This may indicate various conditions and ailments. The fact is that it is precisely the lymphatic system that supports the body, helping it to resist different viruses from viral infections. Parents quite often face the fact that a child has an inflamed lymph node behind the ear.
Symptomatology
Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children is easy to recognize. Usually the symptoms are pronounced. The first and main symptom is that the lymph node increases in size. In this area, the skin may become soft and swell. This is already noticeable during visual inspection. In addition, there may be such symptoms:
- fever, fever, high body temperature;
- headache;
- decreased activity and lethargy;
- general malaise;
- unreasonable and frequent vagaries;
- sleep disturbances;
- loss of appetite;
- the appearance of dandruff and hair loss;
- anxiety;
- soreness during palpation, in some cases at rest;
- pain can be given under the jaw, in the ear, less often in the neck;
- pustular rash in the inflamed area.
When the lymph node behind the ear of a small patient is enlarged, when they feel and look like a bump, it means that the process of inflammation has been going on for a long time. Perhaps the infection has been in the child’s body for quite some time and needs immediate treatment.
Most often, a few of the listed symptoms are enough for the parents to go to the doctor. It is impossible to engage in self-medication or hope that the pathology will pass by itself, since this is not the disease itself, but only one of the signs of a violation in the children's body.
Causes of inflammation
It will be useful to get acquainted with the possible causes of the process of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children. Awareness of this issue will help parents not to run the situation.
This is a warning sign. Parents should definitely note at what point the child begins to feel bad and go to the doctor in a timely manner. It is not necessary to deal with self-diagnosis and, especially, treatment, since an enlarged lymph node can speak of various pathologies. The problem is most often hidden in adjacent organs, but there are exceptions. Only a pediatrician can prescribe adequate treatment.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children occurs due to the influence of the following reasons:
- impaired immunity with colds and SARS;
- various ear diseases, for example, otitis media;
- simple and common rhinitis can cause swollen lymph nodes;
- inflammation of the sinuses of the nose (sinusitis);
- problems with the larynx - tonsillitis or pharyngitis;
- caries;
- purulent wounds in the oral cavity, for example, with stomatitis;
- allergic reaction;
- inflammation of the nerve in the tooth;
- angina;
- tuberculosis;
- viral and fungal infections;
- “Childhood” diseases: measles, rubella, etc.
- syphilis;
- autoimmune pathologies;
- cancer;
- HIV
Some medications can also cause inflammation.
The list of possible diseases is quite extensive. That is why parents should watch the child and remember all his complaints. If the baby is breastfed, you need to be especially careful, since the baby still can not say how and what it hurts. This information will help in the search and allow the specialist to correctly diagnose.
Different tests may be required to pinpoint the cause. The child and parents should prepare for this. Further therapy is mainly aimed at eliminating the disease or condition that caused the enlargement of the lymph nodes. Below we find out which doctor treats the lymph nodes.
Which doctor should I go to?
Having noticed a swelling behind the ears, you should immediately contact a pediatrician. Only the doctor after the necessary diagnosis will establish the cause of the disease. The pediatrician will fully examine the patient and prescribe the necessary laboratory tests.
What actions to take in case of inflammation of the lymph nodes behind the ear in children?
Diagnosis of lymphadenitis
Thanks to a blood test, you can determine the nature of the infection and its genesis. In some cases, X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI, biopsy will be needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Depending on the source of the inflammation process, the doctor will refer the patient to a specialist who will prescribe further treatment: ENT, dentist, oncologist, allergist, immunologist. If the lymph node behind the ear is enlarged, therapy should be comprehensive.
Treatment
We need to fight not with the increase in the lymph node itself, but with the disease that provoked it, that is, with the cause, and not its consequence. Also, the doctor will give the necessary recommendations regarding the care of the child, since treatment without this will be ineffective and incomplete.
Many parents often ask what to do in case of inflammation of the lymph node behind the child’s ear. The baby will first be assigned a series of examinations, as well as certain tests. Based on the information received, the pediatrician will understand what disease caused the inflammation. Commonly assigned:
- Analysis of urine;
- general blood analysis;
- less commonly, x-rays or tomography;
- biopsy - if only oncology is suspected.
How to treat lymph nodes behind the ear? Further treatment is determined based on the results and diagnosis. Children, as a rule, are prescribed drugs to strengthen immunity. With an allergic source of inflammation, antihistamines are used, with a viral or fungal one, antibiotics are used. In addition, physiotherapy is prescribed to relieve edema, and analgesics for pain. Be sure to prescribe local drugs, for example, rinsing the throat and oral cavity or ear drops, when the lymph node behind the ear in the child is enlarged.
Medicines
Drug treatment is part of general therapy. With the help of drugs, the source of the pathology is stopped. The treatment course is completely determined by the type of infectious agent and the patient’s diagnosis. It can be antimicrobial, bactericidal, antifungal agents, antibiotics.
Broad-spectrum drugs are used, including aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, sulfanilamides, azalides, macrolides, penicillins. For example, Clarithromycin, Co-trimoxazole, Azithromycin and their analogues.
If the child has ear infections, topical treatment in the form of drops is required. Allergic reactions are eliminated by antihistamines, which are suitable for age. To recover more quickly, you need to use immunomodulating or vitamin complexes (if you often get a cold and SARS).
If the lymph node behind the child’s ear is enlarged, other methods of therapy can be used.
Other methods
If the doctor is sure of the absence of suppuration and the impossibility of the spread of infection, he will prescribe a physiotherapy course aimed at eliminating edema and inflammation. UHF and dry heat are commonly used.
The presence of an abscess requires a little surgical intervention. It is necessary to remove pus and clean the tissue. To fix the result, medication is prescribed after surgery (anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antimicrobial agents, antibiotics).
Parent Actions
If there is no careful and proper care, the effectiveness of treatment will decrease. Parents need to follow the advice of a pediatrician with accuracy so as not to harm the child even more. If you follow simple rules, the child will recover faster, his body will cope with the disease.
You can not warm the inflammation behind the ear. This will only make it worse, as the infection can spread. The baby will feel much worse. Compresses also fall under the ban, as they can cause a similar reaction.
The diet should be enriched with vitamins, thereby strengthening the immune system. Especially healthy fruits and vegetables. The child needs to be worn according to the weather: it is not very easy so that it does not catch a cold, but not too warm, so that it does not blow out and does not sweat.
Ears and head should be closed. You need to choose hats made from natural materials. You can not use traditional methods in the treatment of a child without first consulting a pediatrician.
The best thing parents can do is to see a doctor in a timely manner to avoid complications.
Conclusion
The mother and father of the patient need to monitor both the condition of the ears and the lymph nodes every day. In addition, in infants, it is necessary to check that their lymph nodes do not enlarge, carefully care for the outer ear.
Without the permission of the doctor, you can not massage and warm the inflammation, apply compresses. This can make the baby worse.
We examined the treatment of inflammation of the lymph node behind the ear in a child.