What is it about ?
Sensitive and / or visible cervical swelling often occurs in children. Some appear suddenly, while others are there but have not been noticed for a long time. As a rule, they are harmless.
Most of the conditions that lead to swelling in the cervical region are:
- infections (virus, bacteria, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, cat scratch disease, etc.),
- infection of the salivary gland,
- tooth abscess,
- Kawasaki disease (childhood illness with rash, fever and inflammation of the eye),
- tumors of the thyroid, salivary glands, lymph nodes,
- leukemia,
- bleeding in a muscle,
- benign cyst.
If the swellings appear quickly and are found on both sides of the neck, they are most likely due to a viral infection. One-sided swelling is usually caused by bacteria. Malignant diseases are only exceptionally the cause of cervical swelling in children.
What is its frequency?
More than half of children in school have at least one small swelling of more than one cm in the neck.
How to recognize them?
As we have explained, cervical swelling that appears suddenly is usually a symptom of an infection. We feel a small rounded, hard and painful lump that evolves in the absence of treatment. Its size varies from 2.5 to 6 cm. The skin on its surface may turn red and hot. Several swollen glands on both sides usually indicate a viral infection, but can also be the result of purulent tonsillitis. In this case, the child also presents symptoms of infection such as fever, headache, toothache, swallowing problems, lack of appetite, etc.
Swellings that have been present for some time usually do not give rise to complaints and are harmless. Usually, these are residual glands that are the result of infection and that gradually decrease in size.
Different painless glands that grow quickly but shrink after three weeks potentially indicate that your child has had mononucleosis or toxoplasmosis.
Swelling which continues to increase in volume after 4 weeks is suspect.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor first detects a possible infection and treats it. He will ask you what symptoms you are experiencing and will feel for any swelling. The location and nature of the swelling are decisive in determining whether they are harmless glands or whether the examinations (blood test, ultrasound) should be continued.
In the presence of swelling that grows or remains present for more than 4 weeks, the doctor takes a blood test. If in doubt as to the diagnosis, he will refer you to the hospital.
What can your doctor do?
Viral infections go away on their own. The doctor will only give you something for the fever. Bacterial infections are often treated with antibiotics. For their part, malignant pathologies require specialized treatment in the hospital.
Want to know more?
www.mongeneraliste.be/nos-dossiers/les-infections-virales-bacteriennes