Can anyone see their child's lymph nodes in neck?

[miniworry]

I have a DD 5, and when she looks up at the sky I've noticed that the lymph node to the left of her neck is viable. I'd say it seems about the size of a grape. She's had colds throughout winter but nothing too bad.

i suffer with awful health anxiety ever since my DS had meningitis so my mind immediately jumps to the worst case scenario. I'm reading mixed things about how seeing lymph nodes in necks in children can be normal so I wondered if any other parents can see their child's and it's all been fine?

I saw my great nephews’s on a photo, far more obvious than in your photo. I had to point it out to his mum. She took him to doctor’s, it was fine, just from having had a virus or two.

Hey OP, yes I’ve had the same with my children. I saw the GP and was referred for a scan. All ok with mine, it’s never gone away but never bothers them.

check in with your GP x

Thanks so much I think I'll book in with the GP but I didn't want to be wasting their time if this was normal -land in being over anxious

shes always bruised easily due to being pale (im a red head) but is full of energy and no weight loss

Yes, I had this with my daughter around the same age. Once, for some reason, they grew to the size of golf balls protruding from her neck. She had blood tests and all was fine. I could see them like as in your photo for a couple of years, but can't see them anymore. During this time she had a few blood tests done for peace of mind and there was never anything wrong.

Yes, I can see my DS’ lymph nodes. They can be really quite prominent when he moves his neck in certain ways. Nothing wrong with him at all, I think he’s just still growing bits of himself in difficult places and at different paces!

I have one on the left side of my neck that I’ve had since I was a small child.

Thanks all for your reassurance ❤️

Yes my son has a few, a new one sometimes appears after a virus. I’ve mentioned to a few different GPs and nobody ever seemed fussed or concerned

@moliflythank you, I'll try and make a gp appointment.

This one is probably a better image to see the size, this is when she is looking up

It could be EBV (the virus that causes glandular fever in teenagers). Everyone catches the virus by the time they are 20. It can cause swollen lymph nodes and a sore throat in children but doesn't make them feel as ill as for a teenager. I had enormous lymph nodes in my neck when I caught it aged 19. Lots of benign reasons for swollen lymph nodes, especially in a kid.

Yes, I've had this on the left side since I was small. I'm now 4 decades on, and it seems just to be an anomaly - didn't change or have unusual effects. If anything, it does hurt more when I have a sore throat or ear problem, but not when in good health. I did have regular earaches as a child but this may not have been linked.

@OtterMummy2024shes had an awfully snotty nose the last couple of weeks that has finally disappeared but not mentioned a sore throat

Yes, my 10 year old son has this. I first noticed it after he tweaked his neck about 2 years ago and they never went back down. His are more on the side of his neck, below his ear. He was referred for an ultrasound and all was fine. The specialist we saw said he had the same as a child but it became less visable as he became older.

@planestrainsthank you for sharing that with me, that makes me feel much better. Can't get a gp
appt until Monday

I've been to the GP this morning and they've ordered some blood tests and a blood film. The doctor examined her lymph node and said it is 1.5 in size. There is also a smaller one the other side of her next too. She has enlarged tonsils when he looked in her mouth but not complaining of a sore throat.

He then all her lymph node sites and found one more small 1cm node in her groin which is movable - this has now sent my anxiety spiralling again as I'm so worried the blood will now show something like leukaemia and she has raised nodes in 2 sites. I can't get a blood test until Wednesday and I just feel sick 😩

Sending you a virtual handhold OP. It’s good you are getting it checked out and hopefully all will be okay

You’ve done the right thing getting it checked out OP. My little one has a noticeable lymph node at the back of his neck. He got referred for a scan saying it was raised but they weren’t concerned as they could be unwell or sometimes they just never shrink to original size.

Hey OP how did you get on with the blood tests?

Hi

How is your little one now?

xx

@hellgirl I'm the OP but locked myself out of my original account hence the name change. My daughters blood tests were all normal but we actually have a paediatric appointment at the hospital as it's been 6 weeks and still the same size so the GP referred us. It was very it down as an urgent appointment and in the letter that came through the post with the appointment was a leaflet that said 'why you have been referred on the 2 week cancer pathway' so this has frightened the life out of me!

I had this last summer with my 2 year old, swollen lymph node in her neck which didnt go down, I went to the doctors hysterical and she wasnt concerned, after 6 more weeks of it still showing I went back and they referred her for an ultrasound. Honestly it was a dark time in my life, I also suffer from health anxiety and it was a very difficult time. She is also pale and bruises very easily. Everything was fine in the end, the sonographer was lovely and said its always best to get it checked, but it was a normal healthy lymph node!

I am sorry you are going through this, please remain optimistic, it isnt always the worst case scenario. I completely get you spiraling though I was the same, its awful

@Justamuma

Hi! I have read your other post too.

Have you got a date for the hospital appointment?

My son (16) has a lymph node on the neck muscle and when he moves his head, I can see it. I have terrible health anxiety. The GP has checked it twice and has referred for an ultrasound. She isn't worried at all but it's to give me peace of mind. I've gone through hundreds of photos and I can see it in a photo from 2023! My son has recently had his hair cut shorter so I don't know if it's always been like this and hidden by longer hair?

If you want to PM me, I'm here for you xx

@Summersuncocktailsthank you so much for sharing your story and I also struggle with health anxiety too so your feelings resonated with me so much! They haven't said anything about an ultrasound tomorrow so I'm not sure whether thet wlll do that tomorrow or whether that will be even more waiting.

@hellgirlour paediatrician hospital appointment is tomorrow! How big would you say your sons is? The GP thinks my daughters is bigger than 2cm which is why he has referred her.

@Summersuncocktailsalso my daughter is exactly the same in that she's as pale as anything and also bruises super easily!