What's wrong with the lymph nodes at the back of the child's head?

Lymph nodes are actually a normal physiological function of the human body and exist in both adults and children. Its main gathering areas are in the neck, behind the ears and back of the head. Therefore, when some parents find lymph nodes on the back of their baby's head, they don't need to worry too much. However, you should also pay attention to the size of the lymph nodes. If they are larger than soybeans or form a cluster, they must be treated promptly.

Is it normal for children to have swollen lymph nodes?

1. Lymph node physiology: Lymph nodes are normal organs of the human body and exist in both adults and children. The main function of lymph nodes is to defend the human body against various invasions. Lymph nodes are widely distributed in various parts of the human body. Common lymph node aggregation areas include the back of the head, jaw, behind the ears, both sides of the neck, armpits, groin, etc., and even next to the internal organs.

The characteristics of normal lymph nodes are that they are the size of soybeans, have a tough and soft texture, are painless, are not adhered to surrounding tissues, and are mobile. Some lymph nodes are larger, with a diameter of up to 1-1.5 cm, so they can be easily touched subcutaneously. Lymph nodes exist in groups, with 1-3 or more lymph nodes in each group and they are of uneven size. The superficial lymph nodes are generally distributed symmetrically, but they do not necessarily enlarge at the same time. Compared with other parts of the body, the cervical lymph nodes are a large group, with more than 20 nodes that can be palpated.

2. Some parents asked: I couldn't feel my child's lymph nodes before, why are they so obvious now?

That's because the size of lymph nodes varies in children of different ages. For newborns (0-28 days after birth) and infants (under 1 year old), the lymph nodes are the size of rice grains or mung beans, and children in these two age groups have more fat, so they are not easy to touch. After 1 year old, most children's lymph nodes can be touched. After 3 years old, subcutaneous fat decreases, and the superficial lymph nodes in the neck can be seen when the child tilts his head. At 7-8 years old, the lymph nodes can be divided into lobules, and the response and controllability to infection improve to a level similar to that of adults. After puberty, the diameter of cervical lymph nodes often exceeds 1 cm. After sexual maturity, the lymph nodes basically stop growing, and some even degenerate and are not obvious to the touch.

Children do not feel pain when these bumps are touched. Those smaller than 2 cm are considered normal physiological phenomena and generally do not require treatment. This is a normal superficial lymph node in the human body. The lymph nodes contain many cells that specialize in engulfing pathogenic substances. They can engulf and digest bacteria, viruses, and aging and dead cells in the body, playing a protective and defensive function.