Swollen painful lymph node in neck...

[katem98]

Hi all,

DS4 woke in the night saying his neck/ throat was painful (I don't think he can differentiate the two) and when I touched it he pushed me off and said 'ow'. He's woken up this morning, he's fine in himself and I asked how his neck was, he said 'not too bad' then I touched it and he said ouch again. It's very obviously there, I can see it when he's in certain positions and clearly sore to touch.

Few days ago came up in heat rash like bumps on his back, didn't think much of it.

He has a patch of dry skin on his cheek which is rough ish to touch.

He has 2 cases of suspected scarlet fever in his pre-school.

Should I be concerned re his painful assuming lymph node? Does this warrant a 111 call?

Thank you!

It's a sign of the body fighting infection so I would take him to the doctors.

@msisfine Thanks. Wait over weekend or 11 job? He seems totally fine in himself.

I think that a call to 111 wouldn't hurt. Even just to hear that it's fine to wait til next week.

I'd watch and wait if he seems ok in himself tbh. if he worsens/has fever that doesn't come do with paracetamol then call 111 over the weekend.

Thanks all. He said his neck hurts when I ask him to look at the wall behind him. Does this sound more like a stiff neck/ swollen gland rather than lymph node?

Sounds like an inflamed lymph node fighting an infection which is what you want them to do. I would wait for gp next week unless he comes down with high fever that won’t come down, won’t drink etc.
i know stiff and sore necks are scary because of meningitis - a dr told me a really simple test to do at home. If he can touch his chin to his chest that’s reassuring as You can’t if it’s meningitis, and also have him lie on his back and bend his knees up and left his head up (like a stomach crunch) again if he can do this it’s not meningitis.
i had a very inflamed lymph node in my neck once- it was like a golf ball and hurt so so much when touched. It was just inflamed and went down. i imagine he’s very sore when touched or asked to turn his head round so a restful weekend and lots of fluids but I wouldn’t be rushing for urgent attention today. Hope he feels better soon xx

Thank you so much @wobblymum1. I really appreciate your reply x

I went to the GP today, she very much dismissed my concerns and just sort of said 'I'm not too concerned just see how he gets on' it's still just as large and painful as it was a couple of nights ago. He seems totally ok in himself, maybe a bit grumpy but I've put that down to a busy few days. What would you do? I thought lymph nodes well when they're fighting infection... he seems absolutely ok!