When you come to the pediatrician, you will notice thatthe doctor during the examination must hold his hands on the neck, under the chin and behind the ears. With these manipulations, he checks the lymph nodes, because their increase may indicate serious violations in the body of the child, requiring careful examination and identification of the cause. Many parents are wondering - if a lymph node is inflamed in the neck of a child, what should I do? First you need to understand what the immune system and the place in it occupy the lymph nodes.
In simple terms, the lymph nodes are the most important link.immune system. This is a kind of filters on which toxins and other substances dangerous for the body settle. Here they are neutralized by antibodies and excreted from the body. Due to this cleansing of the lymph occurs. Also, lymph nodes are manufacturers of lymphocytes.
Normally, the size of the lymph nodes do not exceed 1 cm andpractically not palpable. If their increase and sometimes soreness become noticeable, this may indicate that there is a serious struggle against pathogenic bacteria. If there are a lot of pathogenic bacteria and it is difficult and sometimes impossible to cope with them, then the lymph nodes begin to redden, inflame and grow in size, as if an infection or virus enters the body, the cells of the immune system move in large numbers here.
Lymph nodes are scattered throughout the body and are located next to large vessels, veins and near organs. If a child has a swollen lymph node in the neck, then it is required to find the cause.
On the neck there are several formations of lymph nodes, depending on their location.
The lymph nodes of these localizations are responsible for the health of the throat, ears, nasopharynx, head, neck (including bone and muscle structures).
If the lymph node is inflamed in the neck of a child - thisNot always a sign of a serious illness. For example, in children under three years old, a slight increase may be the norm, since at this age the formation of the immune system occurs. But still, you should consult a doctor to eliminate pathological processes in the body, since an increase of up to 2 cm indicates the beginning of the inflammatory process in the body. This condition is called lymphadenitis.
The photo below shows the lymph nodes in the neck of a child in the lymphadenitis stage. The symptoms and treatment of the disease will be discussed below.
Immediately it is worth noting that the inflammation of the lymph nodeson the neck can be both unilateral and bilateral. If the change in size happened on the one hand, this indicates a local infection, but if it happened from two, then the infection affected the entire body.
If there is inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck of a child, the causes may be different. The most frequent are:
Also, inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck of a child causes:
Typically, the symptoms of inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck of a child is sufficiently bright. The stronger the inflammatory process in the body, the brighter the symptoms appear.
Allocate the main signs of lymphadenitis in the neck:
The inflamed lymph node should resemble tightball that easily rolls under your fingers. It should not be loose or adherent to other tissues. Detection of inflammation of the lymph nodes of different localizations may indicate a serious infectious disease, blood diseases, and malignant tumors. Particular attention should be paid to the situation when there was a simultaneous increase in the lymph nodes of several groups.
Since the inflammation of the lymph nodes is notindependent disease, and a sign of a more serious pathological process occurring in the body, the diagnosis will be aimed at finding out the cause that provoked their increase.
The most common methods for diagnosis are:
After appropriate research and diagnosis, the treatment optimal for the particular child is prescribed.
If you suspect lymphadenitis, you may need to consult a specialist to determine the most accurate diagnosis and prescription of treatment. These specialists are
If the lymph node in the neck is inflamed, what should I do? First of all, it should be noted that it is not recommended to independently treat lymphadenitis, as incorrect therapy can only harm the baby.
When inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck of a childtreatment is usually prescribed of a conservative type, with the exception of decay and malignant tumors - in these cases surgical intervention is required.
The necessary therapy is prescribed after identifying the root cause and nature of the inflammation. In most cases, appointed by:
After consulting a doctor and having passed all the necessary tests, the treatment of lymph nodes in the neck of children should be started as soon as possible.
As a rule, in inflammation of a single lymph nodeprescribe a blood test with leukocyte formula. According to its results, one can judge the nature of the inflammation and prescribe the appropriate treatment. With a viral infection in most cases, the body is able to cope on its own. But then you need careful monitoring of the condition of the baby.
If the medications did not help, and rapid decay began, the doctor may decide on the need for a surgical treatment method.
Under general anesthesia open the affectedlymph node, destroyed tissue and pus removed. Then, after treatment with an antiseptic agent, the organ is sutured. After that, a drainage tube is inserted to remove residual pus. Sometimes it may be necessary to administer an antiseptic.
In an oncologic process, the treatment method is determined by the oncologist individually.
Очень часто при воспалении лимфоузлов на шее у the child’s parents begin to treat them themselves, while making many mistakes that can harm a child’s body. There are several categorical contraindications in the treatment of inflamed lymph nodes:
The use of any folk remedies is possible only after the consent of the doctor and the absence of allergic reactions.
Well proven:
Since swollen lymph nodes isresponse of the immune system, as a preventive measure it is necessary, first of all, to strengthen the immune system. This will allow the body to quickly detect inflammation and eliminate the cause. Also, parents should follow a number of recommendations to maximize the possibility of the development of any inflammatory process.
General prevention:
At risk due to inflammation of the cervicallymph nodes are children who more than 6 times a year suffer from diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. In these cases, medical supervision should be more thorough.
Basically, if the lymph node enlargement wasIt is noticed at an early stage, then after a certain treatment the illness passes very quickly. But it is worth noting that this symptom can not be ignored. Despite the fact that in some cases an enlarged lymph nodes can pass on their own, it is worth contacting a doctor and taking the necessary tests, as this may indicate a serious pathological process that began in the child’s body.
