What causes superficial lymphadenopathy in children?

Children are the fruit of their parents' love and the hope of the family, so their every move will concern their parents. Recently, many parents have found that their children have superficial lymphadenopathy. What is going on? In fact, there are many reasons that can cause enlarged superficial lymph nodes in children. Let’s take a closer look at them below!

Why do children's superficial lymph nodes swell?

If you can feel the superficial lymph nodes, they are usually enlarged. So what are the common causes of superficial lymphadenopathy in children? 1. Acute and chronic inflammation caused by infection with various pathogenic microorganisms: such as enlarged submandibular and submental lymph nodes caused by pulpitis; enlarged cervical lymph nodes caused by infectious mononucleosis; and enlarged inguinal lymph nodes caused by inflammation of the soft tissues of the lower limbs. 2. Malignant tumors: such as lymphoma, acute and chronic leukemia, other blood system tumors and other malignant tumors with lymph node metastasis. 3. Reactive hyperplasia of lymph nodes. 4. Abnormal tissue cell proliferation and metabolism.

How can parents quickly determine the general condition of children's superficial lymph nodes?

If parents accidentally find "lumps" in the above-mentioned superficial areas of their children's bodies, what should they pay attention to? When touching, place your fingertips close to the skin surface and touch the "lumps" from shallow to deep. Pay attention to the location, number, size, softness and hardness of the "lumps", and whether they can be moved. When touching, pay attention to the child's expression, whether he or she will dodge, cry, etc. to determine whether there is tenderness. The size can be compared to items such as peanuts, broad beans, and eggs. Parents should also observe whether the adjacent skin is damaged, red or swollen.

What does it mean when children have swollen superficial lymph nodes and what should we do?

Swollen lymph nodes are commonly known as "yoko" and are very common behind the ears and in the neck of children. Generally, there are one to several movable, non-tender, bean-sized lymph nodes located behind the ears, mastoid area, suboccipital area and back of the neck. They usually have no obvious practical significance and do not require special treatment. Tender lymph nodes are mostly acute lymphadenopathy caused by infection, which will shrink or even disappear after the infection is controlled. If the swollen lymph nodes are accompanied by local skin redness, swelling and fluctuation, it means that an abscess may have formed locally. At this time, surgical incision and drainage can be considered. If the lymph node is fixed and does not move, it means that it is adhered to the surrounding tissues, and the cause needs to be further clarified. If the lymph nodes become increasingly swollen, increase in number, are not tender, feel hard or have poor mobility, prompt examination should be performed to rule out lymph node metastasis of lymphoma, leukemia or other malignant tumors.

In short, don’t panic if children’s superficial lymph nodes are swollen. You can touch them yourself to understand the general condition, and then decide whether to go to the hospital in time based on the specific situation.