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Children's health

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Original poster

Lump in son’s neck

99 replies

BA36 · 30/11/2021 22:24

I noticed a lump in the lower part of my sons neck last week. I could see it and then felt it, it pushes in when you press it but it’s around a pea-size maybe a bit bigger.
I’ve got health anxiety so am trying not to panic but a week on a it’s still there and I am worried. He’s had a cold for ages and did have a blocked/inflamed ear a couple of weeks ago, should I take him back to the doctor? Looking for some reassurance that it’s normal!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

crumblebug · 30/11/2021 22:26

Is it on his collarbone?

pantjog · 30/11/2021 22:28

Go to GP but almost certainly it’s an enlarged lymph node after a cold. My DS has had one for years. It’s been checked and is normal.

Original poster

BA36 · 30/11/2021 22:28

No it’s in his neck, sort of in line with his ear but lower down

OP posts:

wotsittoes · 30/11/2021 22:28

It may just be a gland but if you are concerned take him to gp x

SlB09 · 30/11/2021 22:29

It's likely a lymph node, there are various ones around the area on both sides of the neck. In some children you can see them when they turn their head etc without them being inflamed but it is not unusual for them to become slightly more prominent if recent infection etc. If you are at all worried then please don't see it as bothering the GP and get him checked over. Children are precious and it's difficult to rationalise when it comes to your children xx

amsadandconfused · 30/11/2021 22:29

My sons both had obvious lymph nodes on the side of their neck when they were toddlers and were there for years …completely ok .Both in their 20s now!

LuluBlakey1 · 30/11/2021 22:29

Take him to the GP but I would think it is likely to be cold/ear infection related.
Remember, not all lumps are anything to worry about anyway- some are just lumps- bits of gristle or cysts. I have one in my neck - have had it 20 years about, saw a specialist at the time and he was certain it was nothing and was right.
Best to go and be checked out and reassured though.

DaffyDaffy · 30/11/2021 22:29

Hi OP, I’ve had this and it was a gland raised after a bug, took a few weeks to go back down. The doctor did a blood test just in case but it was all precautionary and turned out fine. I’d run it by the GP for peace of mind.

Plinkplonk1234 · 30/11/2021 22:30

My daughter had a swollen lymph node in her neck for about 6 months once. It was after a cold and under her ear inn the power part if her neck. I was very worried when I found it though.

Donotgogentle · 30/11/2021 22:30

www.nhs.uk/conditions/swollen-glands/

DS1 had swollen lymph nodes for honestly months when he was 2, after repeated infections. Go to the gp if you’re concerned.

Donotgogentle · 30/11/2021 22:32

Interesting how many of us have experienced the lymph nodes staying enlarged for a long time, long after the infection has gone.

Original poster

BA36 · 30/11/2021 22:40

Thank you all, that has reassured me, especially as some of you are saying they stayed enlarged for a while. I’ve got a real fear of cancer and health anxiety so try as much as I can not to just run to the GP as I can find myself needing to go back and back again for reassurance.

OP posts:

candle18 · 30/11/2021 23:19

My son had a visible lymph node in his neck where you describe when he was about two. It remained visible for a long time, maybe years, especially when he turned his head to one side.

Original poster

BA36 · 30/11/2021 23:24

@candle18

My son had a visible lymph node in his neck where you describe when he was about two. It remained visible for a long time, maybe years, especially when he turned his head to one side.

Thank you that’s reassuring

OP posts:

SK136 · 15/12/2021 13:39

Hi 👋🏼 My DS is 2years 4 months and he’s had the same swelling of the lymph node in the same area as your DS since he was 6months old. I suffer with health anxiety and have had at least 6 different doctors look at it. No tests were done but they assured me swollen lymph nodes in children are very common and they may not go back down.
I really hope this helps you x

Original poster

BA36 · 15/12/2021 22:54

Thank you. We had it checked out by the GP who wasn’t concerned and said it was smooth and moveable, he said they can last a long while.
Sometimes I think it’s gone down but when he turns his head I can really feel it and it feels about the size or a marble.
I’m guessing though that he’s had it 3 weeks now, if it was serious he would be displaying oh her symptoms.
The doctor said to go back in a month if it’s still there, am really hoping it goes down soon!

OP posts:

2021mumma · 15/12/2021 23:09

I noticed my newborn had a lump exactly where you describe and was lymph node - 3 months later still enlarged and had them scanned all perfectly normal - so worrying! Hope your son is better and they go down soon!

Original poster

BA36 · 17/12/2021 22:12

Thank you. I did speak to a consultant through Juno (it’s an app where you can speak to doctors about your children) and he said to only worry if it gets bigger or he has other things like weight loss, fevers, sweating etc.
trying not to worry and not to keep feeling it as it’s still the same size 3 weeks on!

OP posts:

Benjispruce5 · 17/12/2021 22:15

Op my DD had this between 1 and 2 and o went to GP. He said not to worry. She s 17 now and very well as she ally has been. I’ve worked in primary for 13 years and see those lumps often in young child.

Benjispruce5 · 17/12/2021 22:15

*children

Cheesewiz · 17/12/2021 22:17

You can feel lymph nodes on children. Especially if they are very slim. Doesn't sound enlarged though, normal size of a lymph node is pea \baked beans sized

Benjispruce5 · 17/12/2021 22:17

It was as you say, more visible on turning the head. Sort of to one side at the back of the neck. But moves quick when pressed and is quite soft.

ChristmasWithBellsOn · 17/12/2021 22:22

Hi OP, I have health anxiety too, and I know how easy it is to spiral.

DD also gets an enlarged lymph node, just one side of her neck, usually at the end of a minor bug (cough/cold/virus) - and often it stays for weeks on end.

It's one of the few 'symptoms' I now feel comfortable with as it's come and gone several times, and she's otherwise so healthy.

(don't get me started on unexplained bruises on her shins though, those still give me The Fear).

Benjispruce5 · 18/12/2021 08:38

@ChristmasWithBellsOn also very common for children to have bruised shins. If you see a playground full of children playing and clambering about it’s surprising they don’t get more!

ChristmasWithBellsOn · 18/12/2021 12:07

@benjispruce5 my rational mind knows that, it's the sneaky irrarional-4am-over-thinker that gets carried away ☺️

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