Observe and wait is a common course of action at this point. Wait and watch is not comfortable for many parents, but swollen lymph nodes can be a sign that the body is doing its job.
Our job as parents is to relax but be vigilant in watchfulness. I hope that helps. Greene and I am not a doctor.
Please keep that in mind when reading my comments and replies. Hi My kid is 2. He has swollen lymph nodes at back of his head ,behind ears and near jaw line and sides of his neck. They have been there for 5 months now ,no change in size. There are no other symptoms. His doctor says not to worry and keep checking the size,they should not grow in size or any fever or weight loss.
What should i do? I m very worried and i dont know what i should do. Beautifully explained Dr. So coherent and to the point. I can certainly understand your parental worry. We love our children so much. My 11 month old son have 4 or more lymph nodes in the head scalp. We were thinking it was because of his tooth.
Im getting worried about my son right now. And im having inside panic of myself thiking maybe this could be worst. This article was so very descriptive and helpful.
The last paragraph was so well written. Many Drs could take note as to how to approach patients and their care. Our goal is to improve children's health by inspiring parents to become knowledgable partners who can work with their children's physicians in new and rich ways.
Swollen Lymph Nodes: Normal, infection or malignancy? Parents are concerned about swollen lymph nodes in their children's necks or scalps. Most of the time, these are normal. Occasionally, they Photo credit: Pavel Losevsky. Question Dr.
What Are Swollen Lymph Nodes? When examining your child, your physician will pay attention to several important signs: Location — enlarged lymph nodes just above the collar bone but below the neck often indicate serious disease.
Character — nodes that are hard, non-tender, and irregular are very suspicious. Normal nodes are mobile beneath the skin. Fixed nodes, those that are firmly attached either to the skin or to deeper tissues, may be malignant.
Nodes that are tender, inflamed, or rubbery in consistency usually represent an infection. Growth — enlarged nodes that continue to enlarge rapidly should be evaluated rapidly.
Associated symptoms — fever, night sweats, or weight loss accompanying enlarged lymph nodes should be investigated thoroughly. Size — size does matter! The definition of an enlarged lymph node is size larger than one centimeter 0.
If a person has an open cut or wound on their scalp, bacteria may enter the skin and cause an infection. They can do this, for example, if a person scratches and breaks the skin or hits their head on something and cuts the scalp.
Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria cause the majority of skin infections. The occipital lymph nodes may swell as they collect the bacteria.
Other signs of a skin infection include:. Some minor skin infections may go away with at-home care, which may involve cleaning the site of infection regularly and using an antibiotic skin ointment.
However, some skin infections can become serious. A person should see a doctor if they have signs and symptoms of an infection that do not get better within 2—3 days.
Head lice are tiny insects that attach to human hair and bite the scalp. They spread easily, usually through direct contact with the hair of someone who has head lice. If a person gets head lice, they may notice intense itching of the scalp. Excessive scratching may cause open sores and a bacterial infection, which can lead to swollen lymph nodes. To determine whether lice are present, a person should look for tiny insects or their eggs nits in the hair and scalp.
They often show up behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Lice can range in color from light tan to black. Most cases of lice respond well to over-the-counter medications. A doctor can provide information about safe and effective treatment options. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to renew itself too quickly.
This accelerated process results in a buildup of skin cells that can cause itchy and painful red scales and patches. Psoriasis commonly affects the scalp, but it also occurs in other areas of the body, including the face, feet, and skin folds. According to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance , psoriasis on the scalp can cause swollen lymph nodes if the person also has a bacterial or yeast infection on the scalp.
There is no cure for psoriasis, but many different medications are available to treat it. A person should work with their doctor to find the best treatment to help control the symptoms. Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection. When it affects the scalp, it is called tinea capitis. Tinea capitis can cause swelling of the occipital lymph nodes.
Other signs of ringworm on the scalp include:. Ringworm on the scalp usually requires a prescription oral antifungal treatment for 1—3 months , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.
Rubella is a contagious disease that occurs due to a virus. The rubella vaccine has dramatically decreased the number of cases in the United States to fewer than 10 people per year , according to the CDC. However, it is more common in other areas of the world. The ears are relatively close to the occipital region of the head, which is why an ear infection can easily affect the occipital lymph nodes.
Ear infections can be caused by bacterial or viral causes leading to inflammation and discomfort in any structure of the ear.
If not treated promptly, long standing ear infections can cause permanent damage. An eye infection known as conjunctivitis can lead the eyes to become extremely red and watery with accompanying itching and irritation. Conjunctivitis may have either a viral or bacterial origin. Bacteria often affects both eyes with sticky discharge, frequently causing eyelids to stick together. Viral infections of the eye are typically characterized by red watery eyes and swollen lymph nodes.
A disorder characterized by excess fatty lipid substances in the blood stream. These fatty substances include cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins. Swollen lymph nodes can be an indication of poor removal of these fatty substances from the body. Lipid disorders such as this one can increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart disease. While they may have a genetic lineage, lipid disorders can also be the result of secondary factors such as fatty diets or suffering from diabetes.
A transplant is the procedure of transferring cells, tissues, or organs from one site to another. It is commonly done with organs like the liver, skin, or even the entire heart.
For a transplant to be successful, the donor and the recipient have to be immunologically compatible. If this is not achieved, the recipient may reject the transplant, leading the body to treat it like a foreign invader. This type of reaction can cause lymph nodes to be swollen in response. A condition characterized by tiny collections of inflammatory cells called granulomas. The most common location for these granulomas are the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and skin.
Currently, sarcoidosis has no cure. Related: Cardiac sarcoidosis: Causes, symptoms, and treatment. Swollen occipital lymph nodes are seldom a feature of cancer, but may be present in cancers such as lymphomas cancer of the lymphatic system , cancer metastasis from another part of the body, or be due to a cancer of the blood known as leukemia.
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