Persistently enlarged lymph nodes on 2yo DD's neck, going for blood tests...

[outofthefryingpan]

Just been to Dr with my little girl.

She's had enlarged nodes on one side of her neck for months which have resisted two bouts of antibiotics.

Doc has referred her to the paediatrician for ultrasound and blood tests and has been generally reassuring in saying that it's quite common to have benign enlarged nodes but that they have to check just in case it's something sinister.

She generally seems well otherwise so I suppose there's every reason to be hopeful but I am, of course, beside myself with worry. I'm especially dreading putting her through the blood test.

Anyone else going through or has experience of similar....?

[EustaciaVye]

Dont panic. We had this and nothing came of it...they get huge every time she fights colds, coughs, earache, anything....

[sybilfaulty]

We had the same 2 years ago with the enlarged LN, but happily all is well. The blood test was fine and they put plenty of local on her arm so it did not hurt too much. She was also entranced by a DVD as they did it (plus the promise of my bar of choc in my pocket for afterwards!)

She will be fine. We were told that some children's nodes are bigger than others and some come up more readily than others. I hope th tests will put your mind at ease.

Take care.

[shouldnthavegoogled]

My dh had these as a child and still has them now. Apparently some people's just get big and never go back to normal. They worry the hell out of him sometimes and he always gets them checked, but they are always fine. He is just a lumpy person apparently!

Hope all is well with your dd. I know how worrying this can be!

[RambleOn]

Yes, DS has them on one side. They are there for the majority of the time, been there since he was about 4mo.

He was checked out by a consultant and found to be fine. There are other symptoms which can indicate there may be a problem, which I'm sure they've already asked you about.

[Pterosaur]

What everyone has said. My DD had this at 3, when several of her lymph nodes were huge for weeks, then one got an infection in it (red and angry), and again last year (10), when another one swelled up and stayed up (not red) for a few months. She had a barrage of tests the first time, including bloods, and an ultrasound this last time. Nothing sinister in her case - it just seems to happen to her sometimes. The blood tests didn't bother her, but getting a bit giggly during the x-ray caused a few problems of interpretation

I know how worrying it is, but I'm sure your DD will be fine.

[HuckingFell]

I still have this at 37. only time it was a prob was when vaccinations were due.

[Pterosaur]

Popped back to say - it wasn't available when DD was 3, but last year the GP said that if she needed more blood tests there would, of course, be a play therapist there to help distract her.

DD was quite interested in the idea of a play therapist, but I'm not sure anything would have distracted her toddler self from her fascination with her own blood...

Could be useful though.

[BadRoly]

Years ago we had this with dd1. She will be 10 this summer!

We spotted the enlarged lymph node in February 2004, she was 2. Months and months of bloodtests, ultrasounds etc. followed. Finally they decided to operate and remove it. This happened a week after dd2 was born in November 2006! Typically, the thing "burst" a couple of days before the op (sounds far more dramatic than it was - just imagine an especially big spot).

The biopsy showed (I think) a "chronic bacterial infection". She has a very faint scar on her neck now and had no side effects other than a long lasting fear of plasters (due to the "magic cream" they would put on her hand before taking blood).

[paddyclamp]

We had this with DS then aged 6....he has quite a few enlarged glands but one was especially big...GP said exactly the same that it was probably nothing...got referred to children's ENT where they did bloods etc...all fine :)

I went to hell and back with worry but one thing that sticks in my mind was the paediatrician saying he was v reassured by the fact that DS was well in himself..he said that if it was anything sinister he would expect the child to be very poorly

As for the actual blood test I guess it helped that DS was a little older but they used lots of numbing gel and he was absolutely fine with the whole thing!

[outofthefryingpan]

Thank you lovely ladies.

Greatly reassured that all indications suggest if she's otherwise well it will hopefully be ok.

Thank you too for the support regarding the blood test. I hadn't thought about a play therapist.

Fingers crossed for 3rd May.