Swolden lymph node in 2 year old neck

[butterfly86]

I came across a lump in 2 1/2 year old dd neck on Christmas Eve and have been past myself ever since, I think I'm really struggling with anxiety so that hasn't helped. A relation who works in paediatrics in a&e checked it out and said it was a lymph node but dd isn't I'll with a cold or anything. Dh has had dd to gp this morning just to put my mind at ease and she said lymph node she could be fighting something off and to go back if it isn't gone in 2-3 weeks. This should have put my fears to bed but I'm such a worrier please somebody talk some sense in to me have you had a similar experience?

[noblegiraffe]

She doesn't seem ill because her lymph nodes are doing their job of fighting off infection.

It will go down soon. I've had swollen lymph nodes while feeling fine before.

[butterfly86]

Thank you. I was worried because it is only on one side but maybe this is common.

[peggyundercrackers]

both our kids have had swollen lymph nodes on one side of their neck, just below their ears and didn't seem to have anything else wrong with them. we were sent to hospital after going to GP and paediatrician did some bloods on the oldest and said her bloods were fine so nothing to worry about. that was about a yr ago and no more has come of it, both seem fine.

[Theonlyoneiknow]

Hi OP, my DS has had one of these on his neck for about 3 years now. It rose up and never went down again. The GP isn't concerned (hope he's right!).

[QuilliamCakespeare]

DS1 had a few swollen lymph nodes in his neck and behind his ears when he was first born. He had an ultrasound at the hospital to check them out but they were fine she disappeared within a few weeks.

[QuilliamCakespeare]

*fine and disappeared..

[butterfly86]

Thank you everyone I'm such a worrier I always think worst case scenario I had myself in a right state last night. Hopefully it settles down in a few weeks.

[peggyundercrackers]

butterfly I understand completely. if its worrying you go to the gp and talk to them about it if nothing else to put your own mind at rest.

[PJ67]

My son had a swollen lymph node on one side of his neck when he was about the same age. You could actually see it when he turned his head to the side. The GP said it was fine and that some never go away once they come up but it shouldn't get any bigger. I used to notice it a bit more when he was ill but it became less noticeable as he grew bigger. Almost certainly nothing to worry about.

[badvocaattasteflump]

DD had the same thing when she was 3. One side of her neck blew up really big - it looked awful & I was freaking out. The GP took one look and wasnt worried at all - he said it's really common in children and just shows their immune system is strong & doing exactly what it should

[cookiefiend]

Dd had one kn the back of her neck at the same age. GP said the same as yours and it did eventually go down. She also said that the lymph node felt like a pea (which it did) and said that is usually a sign all is well as more suspicious growths who be less uniform. Also DD was otherwise well and again they would usually expect other symptoms such as weight loss or tiredness.

Obviously there are exceptions to these rules, but I hope that pits your mind at ease.

[butterfly86]

Thank you for all your replies, I need to stop poking it I think! The doc said give it 2-3 weeks and that was a week ago so I'll keep and eye on it. It's about the size of a kidney bean but if some of your children's have swollen to a fair size hopefully it's nothing. I need to stay of google it's doing me no good!

[captaincake]

My son had one come up in the summer and it still hasn't gone down. I've asked the dr a couple of times he says it's fine.

[butterfly86]

Thanks captain it still hasn't gone down I'm taking her back to the docs next week to get it checked again, it hasn't got bigger but no smaller it's about half the size of a grape it's visible if she turns her neck a certain way. Hope big is you ds's?

[FoodieToo]

My son had exactly what you describe for months on end. 6 I think! Doc was not concerned as it was fairly soft, regular shaped and moveable.
I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Dr Google said glands in young kids can take months on end to return to normal,
If your child is well otherwise it's most likely just a reaction to infection.

[teenmumandsowhat]

My son has a large swollen lymph gland in his neck,very hard and visible. he's had it about 4months minimum, and it's at least 2 centimetres big, unfortunately scans have shown it is abnormal (tissue dead in the middle) and so in two weeks time he has to have it removed, under general anaesthetic. It is not known what the results will be when they test it, best case scenario is a bad infection.

[butterfly86]

Thanks foodie I'm hoping it returns to normal soon I'm so worried about her .I should really stay off google! Oh no teenmum what a worry for you, my dd is about 1.5 cm it is regularly shaped fairly soft and very moveable I'm hoping this is a good sign. Fingers crossed your ds is just an infection how old is he?

[teenmumandsowhat]

My ds is 2years 8months.

[butterfly86]

Teenmum did you get to the bottom of your ds swollen node?

[Olympiathequeen]

DS2 (3) has this in his neck on one side. It's been there a several weeks at least and feels soft and mobile and is the size of a kidney bean. He's had a lot of colds and has glue ear. He had an ultrasound of it yesterday and the consultant said it was a reactive lymph node, possibly in response to infection or his excema. He had a blood test a while back and it was normal except for some anaemia (very poor eater) for which he has iron syrup.

So basically it's fine

[butterfly86]

Dd still has hers it hasn't changed in size at all I've had it checked a few times and they say it's nothing to worry about but I'm so anxious about it, there a couple of pea sized ones around it now but they came with a cold she had a couple of weeks ago, they went down but are back up again now as she has a cough and temperature buy the original one remains unchanged. I wish it would just go away.

[Inneedofaholiday2017]

Op you sound like you need help for your anxiety. Two drs and the internet have told you it's fine now and you are still worrying. Counselling could really help?

[ChestnutsRoastingOnAnOpenFire]

Op, lymph nodes that are abnormal keep growing. If it's staying the same size or shrinking then it's likely to just be a reactive lymph node. If you are worried than ask GP if it's worth doing an ultrasound. A radiologist will be able to tell just by ultrasound if it's normal.

[butterfly86]

I've already made an appointment for this week to see the gp about anxiety. I think what has made it worse is I've been obsessively googling which has scared me. And I think the fact the other small nodes came up recently made me worse but I keep telling myself it's because she's under there weather. Its very difficult to not worry when you're so anxious. Thank you to everyone for your reassuring stories about your own dc.

[Inneedofaholiday2017]

It is hard because there is 1) an element of something to worry about (the swollen lymph node) and 2) your reaction to to the symptom and you basically have to try and sort out in your head how much of your worry is 1) or 2).
Usually a mum's instinct on their child is right so if you are still worrying even tho everyone has reassured you then keep taking her back to the drs to get it looked at. However if you have been overworring about her in the past and it's always turned out to be nothing - you might think your 'radar' on her is a bit off and yep pursue counselling for anxiety.

Hope she's ok anyway.