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Original poster

Swollen Glands

19 replies

Lill · 21/02/2002 23:33

My 6 year old ds has a slightly enlarged gland on his neck. Large enough to be visable, if you know where to look. I can not really remember a time when I have not been aware of it.

He is a relatively healthy child, although he usually sucumbs to a couple of bugs during the autumn, as winter approaches. I do worry about his diet as he eats no fruit and few vegetables so I tend to give him extra vits and minerals to boost his immunity.

He is and always has been a pale child, and goes through phases, during the winter months of appearing tired with dark circles around his eyes.
My question is really if anyone has experienced the same and if you think it is a problem.
He has previously been tested for Lukemia(sp)and other nasties and thank god they were all negative. And I had heard that it is common for boys to have enlarged glands.
Should I take him to be checked out again?

OP posts:

jasper · 22/02/2002 01:23

Yes Lill , even if only ( and I don't really mean "only" ) to set your mind at rest. It is obviously bothering you.
I don't have any personal experience I can draw on to help you out I'm afraid, but I do think you should make an appointment with your doc for peace of mind, and do please let us know what happens.
Good luck.

Tigger2 · 22/02/2002 11:30

Lill, my son has enlarged glands around his neck when he has an Adenoid Infections and he also gets very pale. Hows his mood?, my son usually gets quite niggly when he isn't feeling well, a good way of getting vegs into kids is a pot of soup qhizzed up with the blender.

Might be worth a visit to the GP, good luck.

lulu40 · 22/02/2002 13:50

My son still has an enlarged gland on one side of his neck which came up when he had a nasty throat infection nearly two years ago. We had him checked by a consultant who said it was very normal for young children to have this for some time and quite often every little infection they have will bring it up again. As for looking tired we both get comments about this all the time I think its the shape of our eyes (quite heavy lidded) - but as everyone else will probably say if in doubt check it out

janh · 22/02/2002 15:34

Lill, I once found what I considered a large (marble-type) lump behind my son's ear when I was washing his hair - it was visible but I hadn't noticed it - and rushed off to the GP in a terrible panic. That turned out to be "just" a swollen gland - I didn't even know they had them there.
But my GP was v nice and kind about it, I think they usually are with things like this. My son is a bit like yours, ghostly in the winter! Maybe some children just get larger glands than others - do go and get it checked for your own peace of mind.

Original poster

Lill · 22/02/2002 16:30

okay thanks everyone. I wlll make an appt with the gp and let you know.

OP posts:

Lizzer · 25/02/2002 16:05

Hmmmm...you've all got me thinking now! Dd has a v small but just visible lump on her throat and rushed to get it checked when I discovered it at 9 months (well actually lady at the gym creche discovered it and pointed it out - how much of a truly terrible mum did I feel for not noticing it before!!) The GP said it was nothing to worry about and was EITHER a swollen gland OR a piece of cartillage - very conclusive as per usual from lovely (not) doc. Still it set my mind at rest for the time being, but dd is also v pale in winter with almost transluscent skin and her eyes can look terribly circled at times - I'd like to hear the outcome of your appt. Lill, thanks for bringing it up

ChanelNo5 · 26/02/2002 12:36

My youngest ds (21 mths) has a large (IMO) gland in his groin. 2 doctors have checked it, 1 said to keep an eye on it, the other said it was normal sized but more noticeable because ds is quite slim, neither of them seemed too concerned about it. It does still worry me a bit, but he seems otherwise healthy, so I will keep getting it checked when he sees the doc for other things. Us mothers are never free of worry, are we?

Crinks · 19/03/2002 12:35

My 18 mth son's glands had been up for about 2 months now, especially in his groin. My doctor was a bit worried so we saw a consultant, who completely put my mind at rest. He said Lymphona cancer (which was what the doctor was a bit concerned about!) in children grows at a very fast rate and his gland "would be the size of a walnut" by now. The consultant also said that young children come across a different virus or infection about every 3 days and you sometimes don't have any symptons from them, hence the glands are up. I think it is definitely worth checking enlarged glands out with a doctor/consultant, but certainly don't fear the worst (like I did for about a week!).

Original poster

Lill · 19/03/2002 17:23

what a crap mum am I - i still have not taken ds to drs. babe has had chicken pox so i've been 'locked in' with him.
Will let you all know result when I get round to it, but Im not overly worried at this stage.

OP posts:

Enid · 24/08/2003 09:19

dd1 has a hard pea sized lump behind her ear on the base of her skull/hairline - I am beside myself with worry...does anyone know if there is a gland there?

batey · 24/08/2003 09:47

Don't know about the glands or not,sorry. Why don't you try NHS direct? Sorry can't be much more help, Keep us posted.

EmmaTMG · 24/08/2003 09:50

I remember my mum always feeling around there when I was little to check if my glands were swollen so it could be.

As Batey said, NHS direct will give put your mind at rest.

lou33 · 24/08/2003 11:00

There are, ds2 has it there permanently it seems!

janh · 24/08/2003 11:24

Enid, DS2 had one of those, just there, I found it washing his hair one night - mad panic, off to GP ASAP - yes, it's a gland. D'oh! (He was v nice about it though!)

Enid · 24/08/2003 12:02

I was beside myself with worry so my mum rang my local a and e and they told me to take dd1 in. Anyway, thank goodness, it is a gland and she has an infected spot/bite(?) on her head that has caused the gland to swell.

I was so worried I didn't sleep a wink last night so feel so relieved now!

The consultant also said that she would have felt quite under the weather so that may explain her horrendous clinginess too - its so nice to have these things explained.

Thanks all from a very relieved Ex
(having a small glass of wine at 11.50am)

batey · 24/08/2003 13:16

Glad to hear it was a gland after all! you can enjoy the b/h weekend now.

Having said that dh has pee'd off to the pub to watch the Grand Prix!!! How many more to go.....

SofiaAmes · 24/08/2003 21:36

Enid, glad to hear all is well, Sorry I didn't read this sooner. I had the same thing myself, except it was three pea sized lumps, in my early 20's. I was absolutely convinced I was dying of cancer. Turned out to be glands.

bellas · 29/08/2003 18:14

My 6 year old was tested for lymphoma,cat scratch fever amongst other things after we discovered a large lump in his groin. we waited 24 hours for results and I feared the worst as he was unusually tired and paler than usual. No definite answers except he has severe eczema and they assumed he had a blood infection caused by scratching. This was last November and he was fine after IV antibiotics, etc.. however, his glands on his neck seem to be up constantly and we put it down to him fighting off skin infections. Funnily enough, a boy of the same age from our small town was tested for the same thing but he had a large lump on his neck,same day and everything. Turned out he had an infected lymph node - all very scary but always go to your GP to gain peace of mind. We were told glands can remain swollen for months after.

shj1 · 13/09/2010 09:48

My son is five and a half and has had enlarged glands in his neck, groin, armpits etc since he was 18 months old. We had them checked out straight away and had to go back for monitoring and they decided that they were normal for him, but to keep an eye on them. When he is ill they become a lot bigger and when he turns his head can look quite frightening as they pop out. He is not aware of them at all so they obviously cause no discomfort or pain. And we do not draw attention to them as he could start poking them (you know what kids are like) and make them worse. Every time I go to the doctors with him I always mention them so that they are checked. He is not a sickly child at all, so once or twice a year maybe they are checked. Recently we made a trip to the docs and they were checked and this time as he has had them for so long, the doc has decided we need to go to the specialist again. So will keep you posted.

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