Children's swollen lymph nodes, what should parents think

Lymph nodes play an important role in children's health and have immune functions. If lymph nodes are swollen, it reflects inflammation in some parts of the body. Parents do not need to worry too much and should not blindly use antibiotics for treatment.

1. Under normal circumstances , a slight enlargement of the lymph nodes is sufficient to resist the invasion of common bacteria and viruses, and the lymph nodes are painless and have no other symptoms. This is a normal phenomenon in children's growth. It is not a disease and does not require treatment.

2. The lymph nodes’ ability to resist infection is also limited. If the bacteria or disease are too many or too strong, the lymph nodes will become more swollen and painful, eventually developing into lymphadenitis. It may also spread to the tissues surrounding the lymph nodes, causing widespread redness, swelling, hardness, and pain, which is called cellulitis. More serious cases can cause sepsis, endangering health or even life.

3. If the lymph nodes are slightly enlarged , giving medication or even abusing antibiotics will affect the child's own resistance. However, if you find that the lymph nodes are enlarged beyond the normal range, or are accompanied by symptoms such as fever and pain, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time. Although enlarged lymph nodes in children are mostly normal, regular observation of changes in the lymph nodes in front of the ears, behind the ears, under the occipital bone, under the jaw, on the sides of the neck, under the armpits, in the groin, etc., is very helpful for the early detection of some serious diseases.

4. In addition, children may experience swollen axillary lymph nodes about one month after receiving BCG vaccination. Swelling of superficial lymph nodes throughout the body is mostly caused by some systemic disease.