3 and a half year old lump in neck.

[Zenab12]

Hi everyone, so yesterday I noticed my 3 and a half year old little boy had a lump in his neck, he has been very off for a few days now, very sensitive, very wingey. Last Friday when he talked I noticed in his voice it sounded like he had a sore throat, plus he did have a runny nose and a bit of a cough on and off ( my daughter has sniffles too so not just him) but yesterday after him having been really bad with his crying the last few days I had a feeling he might not be feeling well so I put him in his pram to do the school run and managed to get him to have a nap, when he was napping I don't know what made me check his neck but I felt the side of his neck and felt something jump, I checked him when he got home and couldn't see feel anything. This morning I checked again, you can't see anything and it's hard to find but eventually I felt a lump which jumped when I touched it. My first thought did go to lymph node ( as I have suffered with this since I was a baby too, and my daughter also has permanently englarged ones behind both ears like I do) but immediately my health aniexty kicked in and I was thinking all sorts to the point I was feeling faint, I would say it feels like the size of a kidney bean but I can't be 100% sure as he wouldn't let me touch to much as he went "ow" on the same spot the lymph node was in, plus I might have thought it was bigger than it was due to me panicking. I did call the doctor and he called me back, he didn't even want to see my son he said based on what I've told him he thinks it's a reactive lymph node due to a viral infection and to only call again and bring him in if I notice it gets bigger or if its still their in 2 weeks. Obviously it was reassuring but I was so sure they would atleast want to see him today to check on him.

I know swollen lymph nodes are very common in children, it's just still my health aniexty is stoll making me think theirs something wrong with him, I've been crying all morning and not been able to eat, he's been at nursery so I obviously haven't been doing this in front of him!.

I was just looking for some reassurance really or if any of you have had something similar happen just to help me calm down a bit. I have severe health aniexty and can feel alot of my own lymph nodes down to the point I feel them mulitiple times a day so I'm trying my best not to keep feeling for his 😔 I just hate anything like this, I can't deal with lumps i always just think the worse and make myself ill over it, expecially with it being my little boy.

These are very common when kids have a viral illness. Keep an eye on it, but don't worry too much unless you see any big changes in his behaviour.

Hope he feels better soon!

Sounds very very likely to be just as you said - a lymph node reacting to his virus. Nothing to worry about at all. It won't be there in a few days I'm sure.

As one health anxiety mum to another though have a hand hold. It's going to be okay. I know how scary it can be though.

Both my kids had a massive lymph node behind the left ear. One got as big as a grape during an illness. They often never go back to the same size if they have swelled up, but they atrophy when the child reaches adulthood and shrink away. What you need to be looking out for is redness, heat or it looking like it is infected; or if it is swelling at a rapid rate and other serious signs of illness.

I lost countless hours over worry, be pragmatic, keep and eye out but dont stress. Top tip do not touch or check them as this can make them grow.

Thank you everyone for your replies.
I have suffered with lymph nodes since I was young too, I can still feel mine now from them never going back down, it's a huge worry for me so when I noticed his it made me panic as I said I suffer with severe health aniexty due to my own lymph nodes. I do know reastically he has been ill recently. My daughter also has 2 behind each ear which haven't gone back down since once when she had an infection.

I did Google last night ( bad I know) and I read that even normal nodes in healthy children can be up to 2cm so that put my mind at rest a little bit, I will definitely just leave it alone now though and check again after 2 weeks.

One of mine had this about age 4, well, he was in reception anyway. He had blood tests because he had been unwell off and on for the last year. All was fine though, we were told that it was likely his awful tonsils causing it. He had them out age 6 and I expected the lump to disappear. He's 8 now and it's still there but much less noticeable. It is about the size of my index finger tip, and moves around when you feel it.
I'm not worried anymore as he's very healthy.
Don't worry op but take your child to the Dr, they can reassure you.

Hi all,

I’ve been going out my mind for the last 2 weeks. My son has a 2cmx1cm node swelling on the left side of his neck. We saw the GP as soon as I noticed it, they said was probably due to a virus and to go back in 3 weeks if still there. It is obviously still there and due to go back next week. It’s not gotten any bigger and it doesn’t hurt him (which worries me).
It may be worth noting he had a dental abscess around 3 weeks ago due to an injured tooth, this cleared up with the antibiotics. He then went on to have a cough and fever the week after (negative covid test) then noticed this swelling.
I’ve googled with every inch of me, to the point where I am a nervous wreck, he has no other symptoms, no night sweats, loss of appetite weight loss etc and is full of energy. Sometimes gets bags under his eyes if he’s had a bad night or went to bed later etc.
Sensible thinking tells me that it’s his body reacting to two infections he’s had - -although one viral, irrational thinking tells me it’s something sinister and this thought consumes me at times. Any advice or experience?