Two-year-old baby with swollen lymph nodes

If parents find some hard lumps on their children, these lumps are usually on the neck, behind the ears and on the back of the head. These lumps are generally lymph nodes. It is very normal for babies to have lymph nodes, because everyone has lymph nodes, but it is abnormal for lymph nodes to be swollen. So what should you do if your two-year-old baby has swollen lymph nodes?

Parents often feel lumps of varying sizes behind their children's ears, neck, under the jaw, and at the base of their thighs. Most of them are mobile and can slide under the skin. These small lumps are lymph nodes, which is actually a normal phenomenon. If the swollen lymph nodes are found to be larger than soybeans, either singly or in clusters, and the child cries or screams in pain when touched, parents should pay attention.

1. It is normal for babies to have lymph nodes on their necks

Parents often feel lumps of varying sizes behind their children's ears, neck, under the jaw, and at the base of their thighs. Most of them are mobile and can slide under the skin. These small lumps are lymph nodes. 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.

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. If the swollen lymph nodes are found to be larger than soybeans, either singly or in clusters, and the child cries or screams in pain when touched, parents should pay attention. Because it is one of the symptoms of many children's diseases, it is necessary to go to the hospital for examination and treatment.

2. What to do if your baby has lymph nodes on his neck

If the lymph nodes are normal, the child will not have any other discomfort. Parents only need to pay attention to dynamic observation. There is no need for injections, antibiotics, or any Chinese medicine.

What you need to be vigilant about are abnormal changes in lymph nodes. It is generally believed that when the diameter of the lymph nodes in the neck and armpits exceeds 1 cm and the diameter of the groin area exceeds 1.5 cm, the lymph nodes are considered abnormally swollen. Many children will find swollen lymph nodes after a cold or fever. When the lymph nodes continue to swell and do not subside, or the lymph nodes increase rapidly within a week or two, or several lymph nodes fuse into a mass and become very hard, fixed and unable to slide, or the child also has other physical symptoms, then you need to be careful. It is best to see a doctor to check to see if there is a problem and what the cause is, and then decide whether to treat it.

There are many reasons for abnormal changes in lymph nodes. The most common reason is infection, including common bacterial and viral infections, as well as infections with special bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, which require anti-infection or symptomatic treatment. Some may also be manifestations of autoimmune diseases, malignant tumors and other diseases, such as the lymphoma and leukemia mentioned above. This is also the problem that parents are most worried about. Although it is relatively rare, it is more troublesome when encountered and requires a doctor to do a detailed examination to check.