What causes lymph nodes on the head of children?

In early spring, due to climate change, children often experience swollen lymph nodes in the neck and submandibular area, accompanied by pain and fever. The children are in great pain and their parents are very worried. This is what we usually call "lymph nodes on the head." So, what is the cause of the disease of the lymph nodes on the head? How do we know that our children have this disease? Below, I will summarize it for you.

Lymph nodes on the head are more common in children aged 2 to 8 years old. In the early stages, the children complain of neck pain. If parents observe carefully, they will find a hard lump under the jaw or in the neck, which is painful to the touch but can be relieved with a little movement. At this time, the child will have difficulty opening his mouth to eat and will have a fever. If not treated promptly, the condition will progress rapidly, with the swelling increasing significantly and the skin becoming red and hard. Later, the center gradually becomes soft and purulent. Therefore, if parents find that their children have swollen lymph nodes, they should pay attention and seek early treatment.

Sometimes you can feel lumps of varying sizes behind the ears, neck, under the jaw, and at the base of the thighs of children. Most of them are mobile and can slide under the skin. These small lumps are lymph nodes. Because lymphatic tissue, especially lymph nodes, develop rapidly within one year of age, healthy children may feel lymph nodes in superficial parts of the body such as behind the ears, neck, under the jaw, armpits, and groin (i.e., groin). However, the lymph nodes in these areas are normally no larger than soybeans, are mostly single, soft in texture, can slide under the skin, are painless, and are not adhered to surrounding tissues. However, lymph nodes should not be palpated under the chin, supraclavicular fossa, or elbows.

In some abnormal cases, lymph nodes may also become abnormally swollen. Because lymph nodes can produce lymphocytes in the blood, these lymphocytes have the function of defending against bacteria. The lymph nodes in various parts of the body are connected to nearby organs or tissues by lymphatic vessels, just like "sentry posts" around the body. When nearby tissues or organs are attacked by bacteria, they can kill the bacteria and prevent them from spreading outward. As a result, the lymph nodes themselves become enlarged, can be felt, and may be painful or tender. Therefore, the location of the bacterial infection lesion can be inferred from the location of the swollen lymph nodes. For example, enlarged submandibular lymph nodes may be caused by inflammation of the oral cavity and pharynx, and enlarged occipital lymph nodes may be caused by inflammation of the skin on the head and back of the neck.

The above is an introduction to the causes of lymph nodes on the head of children. It also briefly introduces how to detect when a child is sick. It is necessary to detect and treat the disease in time, pay attention to nutrition, strengthen physical fitness and prevent colds or other infections. If you find that the disease is serious and continues to grow, you should measure your temperature several times a day to see if you have a low fever. You must go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment.